Magnetic sensing of molecular materials with tuneable liquid crystal lasers

Supervisors: Dr Olof Johansson (Chemistry) and Dr Philip Hands (Engineering)

One fully funded studentship project available. The studentship provides UK/EU tuition fees and an EPSRC rate stipend (£14,553 in 2017/18) for a period of 48-monhts. The successful candidate will be a part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Sensing and Measurement (CDT-ISM).

Background
A continued development of new magnetic materials and new ways of controlling them will contribute to the development of future information storage devices. This is important because improving how we handle and process the large amount of data generated in our society will affect a wide range of areas such as health care, government, logistics, and will reduce global energy consumption.
Optical methods, such as magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), are attractive for magnetic sensing applications since they can provide a non-intrusive probe that is highly sensitive, even in environments close to application where conventional magnetometers are difficult to use, such as in thin films. However, most commercial MOKE equipment only operate at a specific wavelength. This is because traditionally metallic magnetic materials have been mostly studied. For the new generation of magnetic materials that are currently being developed, such as molecule-based magnets, a wider wavelength-range is urgently needed. This is also the true for magnetic heterostructure and multilayers, where a broad range of wavelengths will enable studies of each magnetic sublayer.

Project description
This project will explore the exciting possibility to combine MCD and MOKE experiments with wavelength-tuneable liquid crystal lasers and provide a new and efficient way of carrying out MCD and MOKE using laser-based techniques. The apparatus will be applied to study magnetic properties of novel molecular multi-layered thin films and other systems. The project will be based at the School of Chemistry, but with strong collaboration with the School of Engineering (both at University of Edinburgh).

The CDT-ISM is run jointly by Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, both powerhouses in the realm of sensor research. With active sensors-related research collaborations with over 160 companies they provide a unique research excellence, expertise and depth.

To apply, interested candidates should initially contact Dr Olof Johansson ([Email Address Removed]). Informal enquiries are encouraged. Formal applications should be done via the CDT http://cdt-ism.org/. You should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second class Honours degree, or equivalent, in physics, chemistry, or chemical physics. Applicants must also meet the EPSRC residency requirements - a UK/EU citizen resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Further information
Johansson research group: https://tinyurl.com/jhmtdcv
Hands research group: https://tinyurl.com/jtl7sof