Marie Sklodowska Curie Action - Global Fellowship - Call H2020-MSCA-IF-2017

“EuSuper” project no. 796603

“Superconducting Magnetic RAM for Next Generation of Supercomputers”

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 796603

Summary

The continuous search for computing-power and data-storage is quickly approaching the physical limits of conventional silicon-based electronics. To overcome this limit different approaches beyond conventional CMOS technology are nowadays under investigation. On one hand, quantum computers, based on non-classical superposition of logic units (bit), offer bright perspectives. On the other hand, energy-efficient superconducting circuits based on Josephson junctions have already demonstrated a computational speed 500 times larger than conventional CMOS-based ones. The complete implementation of a supercomputer based on this technology is nowadays limited by the lack of memories operating at cryogenic temperatures.

In this context, EuSuper aims at developing a new generation of nano-sized superconducting non-volatile magnetic memories, with improved efficiency and enhanced functionalities, by exploiting a wise hybridization between ferromagnetic insulators (FI) and conventional superconducting (S) metals. 
The peculiar behaviour of FI/S systems is determined by interfacial quantum phenomena arising at the boundary between the ferromagnetic and superconducting materials. Within a distance from the interface of the order of the superconducting coherence length, the exchange interaction of the FI induces a spin split of the density of states into the S, as per an effective Zeeman splitting generated by an external magnetic field of up to few Tesla (magnetic proximity effect). Due to the key role played by the FI/S interfaces, the overall quality of the growing technique is crucial for observing and manipulating magnetic proximity effects.

The results of this project can pave the way for innovative superconducting spintronic applications, i.e. in classical large-scale supercomputing, suitable in all fields of science (solid state physics, meteorology, finance, medicine, biology, etc.) where increasing speed of calculation and storage are exponentially increasing on demand. Also, from a fundamental physics point of view, the results obtained within my project will help in clarifying the interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity in FI/S mesoscopic junctions and spin-valve. From the technological side, I will employ the small size and scalability of these systems to develop an innovative class of superconducting memories ready for the market of incoming next-generation cryogenics supercomputers.

EuSuper is a synergic Marie Sklodowska Curie Action that combines the capabilities and expertise of two of the most outstanding and globally recognized research institutions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy), respectively the outgoing host (OH) and the return host (RH).

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