Get ready to dive into the captivating realm of ferroelectrics, where surprises at the nanoscale await discovery! We are thrilled to announce a unique opportunity for a curious and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher to join our dynamic team at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).

Ferroelectrics continue to mesmerize at the nanoscale. By inducing electrostatic or mechanic frustration on them, we can unlock a rich tapestry of dipole structures, including skyrmions and vortex lattices. Such polar textures are a hot research topic and offer a dual promise. First, their origin and behaviour pose intriguing questions begging for answers. Second, they hold great potential for groundbreaking applications, from outstanding voltage amplifications to shaping the future of 6G technologies.

In the realm of ferroelectric ultrathin films, we are facing new challenges. Applying an electric bias transforms the dipole landscape, giving rise to confined nanoregions (bubbles) with a polarization opposite to their embedding matrix (see Figure 1 below). These bubbles are electric versions of magnetic skyrmions, and are more than just a rarity; they constitute a novel quasiparticle in their own right. Recent experimental observations and successful manipulation attempts have set the stage. Yet, their dynamical behaviour remains a largely unexplored frontier. Only lately our group at LIST predicted that electric bubbles will display Brownian motion^[1].

We offer you a 3-year postdoc position in the project BUBBLACED, led by Hugo Aramberri ([email protected]), and focused on the modelling of electric bubble quasiparticles. You will join the ongoing work by Hugo Aramberri and Jorge Íñiguez-González (also involved in the project) on understanding these objects using second-principles atomistic simulation methods, focusing on their dynamics and possible ways to act on them. You will also benefit from interactions with other team members. Join us in exploring the fascinating world of electric bubbles!

Requirements

· You hold a PhD degree in Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.

· You can communicate fluently in English, both in writing and orally.

· You enjoy atomistic simulations, data visualization and/or data analysis.

· You like working in a collaborative environment.

· Previous knowledge of ferroelectrics and/or molecular dynamics is a plus.

Benefits

· 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance.

· Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers.

· Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce.

Your application must include

· A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience;

· A scientific CV;

· Academic record;

· List of publications (and patents, if applicable);

· Contact details of 2 references.

Candidates shall be available for starting their position in September 2024.

Apply online at here.

[1] Brownian electric bubble quasiparticles. H. Aramberri & J. Íñiguez-González, arXiv 2308.01716 (2023).

Figure 1. Domains in ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattices. Stripe domains (a), “domain liquid” state (b) with spontaneous domain wall motion caused by thermal fluctuations, and electric bubbles (c) resulting from applying an electric field to the stripe phase. Arrows indicate the local polarization in the shown planes; the color code indicates the polarization along the vertical direction (scale to the right).