Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Fundamentals
of NanoElectronics (FoNE)
Highlights
European Science Foundation (ESF) Physical and Engineering Sciences (PESC)
The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an The Physical and Engineering Sciences are key drivers
independent, non-governmental organisation, the for research and innovation, providing fundamental
members of which are 78 national funding agencies, insights and creating new applications for mankind.
research performing agencies, academies and learned The goal of the ESF Standing Committee for Physical
societies from 30 countries. and Engineering Sciences (PESC) is to become the
The strength of ESF lies in its influential membership pan-European platform for innovative research and
and in its ability to bring together the different domains competitive new ideas while addressing societal
of European science in order to meet the challenges of issues in a more effective and sustainable manner.
the future. The Committee is a unique cross-disciplinary
Since its establishment in 1974, ESF, which has its group, with networking activities comprising a good
headquarters in Strasbourg with offices in Brussels mix of experimental and theoretical approaches.
and Ostend, has assembled a host of organisations It distinguishes itself by focusing on fundamental
that span all disciplines of science, to create a research and engineering. PESC covers the following
common platform for cross-border cooperation in broad spectrum of fields: chemistry, mathematics,
Europe. informatics and the computer sciences, physics,
ESF is dedicated to promoting collaboration in fundamental engineering sciences and materials
scientific research, funding of research and science sciences.
policy across Europe. Through its activities and
instruments ESF has made major contributions to
science in a global context. ESF covers the following
scientific domains:
Editorial Board
Humanities Professor Vladimir Falko, Project Leader,
Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
Medical Sciences Professor Giuseppe Iannaccone, Project Leader,
Physical and Engineering Sciences IEIIT-CNR sezione di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Social Sciences Professor Andrew Briggs, Project Leader,
Marine Sciences Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
Materials Science and Engineering Dr Christopher Marrows, Project Leader,
Nuclear Physics University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Polar Sciences Professor Bogdan Bulka, Project Leader,
Radio Astronomy Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Space Sciences Mr Neil Williams, PESC Head of Unit, ESF, France
Dr Ana Helman, EUROCORES Programme
www.esf.org Coordinator, ESF, France
Dr Isabel Van De Keere, Junior Science Officer
EUROCORES, ESF, France
Dr Hilary J. Crichton, Junior Science Officer
EUROCORES, ESF, France
Ms Catherine Lobstein, EUROCORES Administrator,
ESF, France
Foreword 3
1. Governing Bodies 5
.1 Management Committee
1 5
1.2 Scientific Committee 5
.3 International Review Panel
1 5
1.4 Funding Organisations 6
1.5 Support Team at the ESF 7
5. Outreach Activities 33
FoNE was one of the early EUROCORES pro- The aim of this report is to illustrate the high- 3
grammes that were launched in 2005, recognising lights in terms of scientific results, and networking
Czech Republic:
Czech Science Foundation*
France:
Commissariat lnergie Atomique/
Direction des Sciences de la Matire*
Hungary:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Ireland:
Enterprise Ireland*
1.5 Support Team at the ESF
Spain: Communication
Interministerial Committee on Science and Technology* Ms Sabine Schott:
Publications Officer
Dr Michiko Hama:
Communications Officer
Switzerland: Finance
Swiss National Science Foundation* Mr David Weber:
Director of Finance and Administration
Ms Philippa Rowe:
Finance Controller
United Kingdom:
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council*
2.
Description of the FoNE
Programme
lll
2.1 Rationale and Objectives trol size, interface scattering and proximity effects 9
in a wide variety of hybrid nanostructures. At a
uid model, such as the Luttinger liquid, will also of spins, and to reach a more thorough understand-
be considered. ing of spin-current induced magnetisation reversal
Quantum shot noise in small mesoscopic or in metals and semiconductors. Activities are likely
nanoscale systems is concerned with problems like to include:
quantum detectors where noise plays a central role. a. The interface properties of metals with oxides,
Areas of theoretical interest will include differ- and both metals and oxides with semiconductors,
ent approaches to counting statistics, the probing in order to understand the process of electrical
and manipulating of entangled states and prob- spin injection and detection and how these are
ing non-local coherence. Systems of interest are best achieved.
superconductor-normal systems, superconductor- b. Studies of the manipulation of spins in these
ferromagnetic systems and quantum dots, along structures by external fields and forces such as
with noise signatures of systems with interactions electric fields (through gated structures), mag-
(correlations), including Luttinger liquid carriers netic fields, currents and optical methods.
like carbon nanotubes. Experimental problems c. Studies of spin-current-induced magnetisation
include the extension of present day measurement reversal, which has potential application particu-
techniques to increase sensitivity and higher fre- larly for magnetic random access memory.
quencies, and include challenges in the fabrication d. Studies of nanoscale ferromagnetic semiconduc-
of samples, especially hybrid structures. tors.
The ongoing miniaturisation of electronic
devices and sensors brings new physics into play Topic 4. Proximity effects and hybrid
associated with nanoelectromechanical properties. nanostructures
This research topic will be a platform for examin- The increasing possibilities afforded by modern
ing such effects, including the question of how the nanoscale fabrication techniques now make it possi-
accuracy of nanoelectromechanical single-electron ble to answer some major conceptual questions, long
devices can be enhanced substantially compared to ago posed theoretically, regarding superconductor-
ordinary single-electron transistors. ferromagnetic hybrid nanostructured devices. These
concern the interaction of a Cooper pair with the
Topic 2. Molecular-scale electronics and exchange field of a ferromagnet, and the behaviour
atomic contacts of (single) spins in a superconductor. The richness of
This activity will investigate possibilities for using the questions derives from the large parameter space
atoms or molecules as basic electronic building of the problem, and the different issues in different
blocks. It was realised some time ago that organic corners. Spin polarisation, diffusion constants, mag-
molecules are very attractive for building electronic netic dipole fields, ferromagnetic domain walls, and
circuits in view of the rich variety of properties that electronic structure of the interfaces are all part of
can be introduced by use of chemical synthesis. experimental reality, and it takes careful and well-
controlled experiments to disentangle them. 2.3 List of Projects
Studies are expected of NS and SNS junctions,
where N is either a very thin metal, or a nanotube, Spin-Coherent Transport and Control
or a semiconductor and S is superconductor. A com- in Quantum Nanostructures (SpiCo)
mon feature of these compounds is their low density Principal Investigators:
of carriers, which could be modulated by field effect Vladimir Falko (Project Leader)
and is easily brought out of equilibrium. Moreover Lancaster University, IENS, Physics Department,
many of them (carbon nanotubes and 2- dimen- Lancaster, United Kingdom
sional electron gases) exhibit a very high mobility. Silvano De Franceschi
The study of such NS and SNS junctions is a prereq- Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, CNR-INFM,
uisite for developing systems and devices where the Basovizza, Italy
superconducting proximity effect is controlled by Klaus Ensslin
gates, where the ballistic nature of carriers is cru- Eidgenssische Technische Hochschule
cial or where coherent entangled Andreev pairs are Hnggerberg, Laboratorium fr
manipulated. Festkrperphysik, Zrich, Switzerland
Tomas Jungwirth
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic,
Facts and Figures Institute of Physics, Department of Surface and 11
15
3.1 Spin-coherent Transport and The main overlapping interests and complementary
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Fundamentals of NanoElectronics (FoNE)
V1 + L
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a, AFM image of large flat terraces of graphene on the surface of the Si-face of a SiC substrate; b, Graphene patterned in the Hall bar
configuration on top of the terraced substrate; c, Layout of a 77 mm2 wafer with 20 patterned devices. The contact configuration for one
of the devices is shown in the enlarged image. Tzalenchuk, A. et al. Nature Nanotech. 5, 186 (2010).
magnetic semiconductors was performed by the in a photovoltaic cell allowing electrical, scalable,
groups of Jungwirth and Falko. In collaboration local detection of the spin polarisation of electrons
with the experimental groups from Nottingham injected into a semiconductor.
and Lausanne, Jungwirths team demonstrated the Responding quickly to the discovery of graphene,
non-volatile control of ferromagnetism in the sem- Ensslins team developed the technology to manu-
iconductor material (Ga,Mn)As by a ferroelectric facture graphene quantum dots and wires. This
gate electrode. Along with this, they theoretically enabled them to fabricate a fully tuneable graphene-
explained the gating effects on a semi-quantitative based single electron transistor. The groups led by
level. The result represents the first of its kind and Falko and Loss developed a theory of quantum
makes substantial progress towards the fabrication transport and spin manipulation in graphene-based
of a multiferroic system (combining ferromagnetism nanostructures. Further research on graphene by
and ferroelectricity) in a semiconductor device. Falkos team was carried out in a new collaboration
Additional research by the group led by Jungwirth with the National Physical Laboratory, UK. They
gave rise to the discovery of critical behaviour of established a quantum Hall resistance quantisa-
the temperature derivative of the conductivity of tion accuracy of a few parts in a billion at 300 mK
the dilute moment ferromagnetic semiconductor in a large-area epitaxial graphene sample. Several
(Ga,Mn)As. Analysis of the experimental results more devices have been studied at low temperature
led the team to explain the physical origin of the (4.2K), confirming the robustness of the quantum
phenomenon in terms of wavevector scattering of Hall effect in graphene synthesised on the silicon-
carriers from spin fluctuations. Continuing their terminated face of SiC, making significant steps
work on GaAs materials, the team collaborated towards the development of a fundamental quan-
with SPINTRA researchers; they discovered and tum resistance standard.
theoretically described the spin-injection Hall effect
in a non-magnetic material. The effect was observed
Selected Publications 3.2 Device Electronics Based
Doh, Y. J., De Franceschi, S., Bakkers, E. P. A.M. on Nanowires and Nanotubes
and Kouwenhoven, L. P., Andreev Reflection (DEWINT)
versus Coulomb Blockade in semiconductor Principal Investigators
nanowire devices. Nano Lett. 8, 4098 (2008). Giuseppe Iannaccone (Project Leader)
Fischer, J., Trauzettel, B. and Loss, D., Hyperfine Merlyne De Souza
interaction and electron-spin decoherence in Hans Kosina
graphene and carbon nanotube quantum dots. Bill Milne
Phys. Rev. B 80, 155401 (2009). Funding Organisations
Gustavsson, S., Leturcq, R., Studer, M., Ihn, T., Austria: Austrian Science Fund
Ensslin, K., Driscoll, D. C. and Gossard, A.C., Italy: National Research Council
Time-resolved detection of single-electron United Kingdom: Engineering and Physical
interference. Nano Lett. 8, 2547 (2008). Sciences Research Council
Novk, V., Olejnk, K., Wunderlich, J., Cukr,
The DEWINT CRP looked at both the intrinsic
M., Vborn, K., Rushforth, A. W., Edmonds,
physical properties of materials and structures,
K. V., Campion, R. P., Gallagher, B. L., Sinova,
and their application in electronics. It combined 17
J., Jungwirth, T., Curie point singularity in the
experimental and theoretical research into trans-
temperature derivative of resistivity in
protocol has been developed that preserves approxi- The T2 times are over two orders of magnitude
mately 80% of the spins in the system. An example longer than previously reported and consequently
is a photo-switchable fullerene dimer and its analo- make metallofullerenes of interest in areas such as
gous nitrogen endohedral species. The researchers spin-labelling, spintronics and quantum computing.
used ultraviolet and visible irradiation to switch
between the trans and cis isomers of both the C60- Arrangement of molecules in ordered
and N@C60-based dimers. structures
20 Other types of fullerene dimers such as directly Fullerenes and their functionalised derivatives were
bonded dimers, short chain C60 dimers and dimers inserted inside SWNTs and observed at room and
Fundamentals of NanoElectronics (FoNE)
with bridge molecules of varying lengths, have been low (77 K) temperatures. Room temperature ESR
synthesised. By altering the bridge molecule one can shows a change in the g-factor of the functional
control the interfullerene spacing and thus tune the group that could be attributed to the alignment of
electronic interaction between the fullerenes. the C60 molecules inside the nanotube. However,
the opposite effect was observed at 77 K.
Characterisation of structural and electronic The kinetics of the peapod to double-walled
properties carbon nanotube (DWCNT) transition were deter-
The work of the CRP contributed to the detailed mined with Raman spectroscopy and XRD, where
understanding of the behaviour of spin-active met- each of these methods delivered specific informa-
allofullerenes in various types of empty fullerene tion. The decrease of the content of undamaged
matrices. The dipoledipole and exchange interac- fullerenes content was obtained using Raman spec-
tions between La@C82 molecules were controlled troscopy, whereas XRD gave the dissolution of the
by changing the concentration of La@C82 and the fractions of fullerenes.
species of the empty fullerene matrix. The crystal The environment of SWNTs was used as a cata-
structures of empty fullerenes containing trace lytic reactor to develop a new material: iron-based
quantities of La@C82 were measured using X-ray nanoparticles residing on DWNTs with a well-
diffraction (XRD) and correlated with experimen- defined intra-tube spacing and doping level. These
tal electron spin resonance (ESR) data. Th is was materials have high potential as functional tem-
complemented by simulations of the ESR spectrum. plates for proving the concepts of nanometre-scale
Sc@C82 was also inserted into single-walled carbon physics, molecular electronics and biomedical appli-
nanotubes (SWNTs) to form peapods with con- cations. The scientists involved also investigated
centrations of 10% and 0.1%, diluted with C60. The the mechanisms for controlling the assembly of
result was the loss of measurable hyperfi ne struc- functionalised fullerene arrays by varying the size
ture attributed to charge transfer interactions with and geometry of the functional groups and charac-
the SWNTs. This is important information needed terising the molecular chains with high-resolution
for any further advancement of solid-state archi- transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray
tectures for spin-dependent transport studies and diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.
devices using spin-active metallofullerenes. The progress so far puts the IMPRESS research-
The electron spin relaxation has been studied in ers in an excellent position to achieve the ambitious
several species of metallofullerene as a function of goal of creating and demonstrating an ordered spin
temperature and solvent environment in order to chain for information transfer and entanglement.
determine the spin phase coherence time (T2). It was
found that the mechanisms governing relaxation (T,
T2) arise from metal-cage vibrational modes, spin-
orbit coupling and the nuclear spin environment.
Selected Publications Warner, J. H., Ito, Y., Rmmeli, M. H., Gemming,
T., Bchner, B., Shinohara, H. and Briggs, G.A. D.,
Buitelaar, M. R., Fransson, J., Cantone, A. L.,
One-dimensional confined motion of single metal
Smith, C. G., Anderson, D., Jones, G. A. C.,
atoms inside double-walled carbon nanotubes.
Ardavan, A., Khlobystov, A. N., Watt, A. A. R.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 195504 (2009).
Porfyrakis, K. and Briggs, G. A. D., Pauli spin
blockade in carbon nanotube double quantum Zaka, M., Warner, J. H., Ito, Y., Morton, J. J.
dots. Phys. Rev. B 77, 245439 (2008). L., Rmmeli, M. H., Pichler, T., Ardavan, A.,
Shinohara, H. and Briggs, G. A. D., Exchange
Cantone, A. L., Buitelaar, M. R., Smith, C.G.,
interactions of spin-active metallofullerenes
Anderson, D., Jones, G. A. C., Chorley, S. J.,
in solid-state carbon networks. Phys. Rev. B 81,
Casiraghi, C., Lombardo, A., Ferrari, A. C.,
075424 (2010).
Shinohara, H., Ardavan, A., Warner, J.,
Watt, A. A. R., Porfyrakis, K. and Briggs, G. A. D.,
Electronic transport characterization of
Sc@C82 single-wall carbon nanotube peapods. 3.4 Domain Walls and Spin-
J. Appl. Phys. 104, 083717 (2008). Polarised Currents (SPINCURRENT)
Chamberlain, T. W., Pfeiffer, R., Peterlik, H.,
Principal Investigators
Kuzmany, H., Zerbetto, F., Melle-Franco, M., 21
Christopher Marrows (Project Leader)
Staddon, L., Champness, N. R., Briggs, G. A. D.
Hall effect (ISHE) of an optically excited spin- transport properties of this spintronic material.
polarised current in a two-dimensional electron By applying a special annealing technique to opti-
and hole gas system with variable Rashba-type mally grown GaMnAs layers the current world
spin-orbit coupling and a tuneable Fermi-level. This record Curie temperature of 187 K was achieved.
allowed them to study the presence of intrinsic and Springholzs group developed the growth of epitax-
extrinsic sources of the ISHE and the transition ial layers of another ferromagnetic semiconductor:
between these two regimes. Moreover, a planar GeMnTe with Mn concentrations from 0.5100%
pn diode microdevice was constructed and used (and Curie temperatures up to 190 K). The trans-
to demonstrate that polarised injection of carri- port properties were studied in detail using
ers can be detected by transverse electrical signals anomalous and planar Hall effect and anisotropic
directly along the semiconducting channel, both magnetoresistance measurements, demonstrating
inside and outside the injection area, without dis- spin-polarised free carriers in the samples.
turbing the spin-polarised current or employing
magnetic elements. The device is a nonmagnetic Correlated electronic transport and current
spin-photovoltaic polarimeter that directly con- induced magnetic switching in nanoscale
verts polarisation of light into transverse voltage devices
signals. The spin Hall conductivity was also stud- An important achievement by Van Haesendoncks
ied in Tagliacozzos group. They investigated clean team is the identification of the training effect in
InGaAs samples by means of linear response theory. the magnetic hysteresis loops of Co/CoO bilayers.
A new type of spin filter was proposed based on a This can be explained in terms of a model that takes
quantum interference effect in an InGaAs ring in into account that the CoO antiferromagnet consists
the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction and of nanometre size grains, where the orientation of
an external magnetic field orthogonal to the ring the anisotropy axes varies randomly from one grain
plane. to the other. The restoration of the untrained state
The groups led by Novk and Gallagher studied can be directly visualised by magnetic force micros-
the epitaxial growth conditions of ferromagnetic copy at low temperatures and in the presence of a
GaMnAs in order to improve the magnetic and magnetic field.
Among other successes, the project has high- Selected Publications
lighted the fact that the electrical conductance of Acbas, G., Kim, M. H., Cukr, M., Novak, V.,
devices and nanostructured metal contacts repre- Scarpulla, M. A., Dubon, O. D., Jungwirth, T.,
sents a powerful tool to detect nanomagnetism. A Sinova, J. and Cerne, J., Electronic structure of
collaboration between the Polish groups resulted ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga1-xMnx As probed
in the fabrication and low-temperature transport by subgap magneto-optical spectroscopy. Phys.
measurements of T-shaped three-terminal devices. Rev. Lett. 103, 137201 (2009).
By comparing the data to conductance modelling,
it was confirmed experimentally that the T-shape is Bonanni, A., Navarro-Quezada, A., Li, T.,
particularly well suited for studying and employing Wegscheider, M., Matej, Z., Holy, V., Lechner,
quantum effects which determine transport proper- R. T., Bauer, G., Rovezzi, M., DAcapito, F.,
ties of mesoscopic devices. Kiecana, M., Sawicki, M. and Dietl, T., Controlled
Current-induced switching and dynamics in aggregation of magnetic ions in a semiconductor:
An experimental demonstration. Phys. Rev. Lett.
spin valves were investigated important effects
101, 135502 (2008).
for applications in spintronic devices such as micro-
wave generators, magnetoresistive random access Brems, S., Temst, K. and Van Haesendonck, C.,
memory cells. Magnetic switching was shown to Origin of the training effect and asymmetry of
be a more general phenomenon, which appears the magnetization in polycrystalline exchange 25
in other magnetic systems, e.g., in magnetic mol- bias systems. Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 067201 (2007).
This summer school reviewed the state-of-the-art This cross-disciplinary workshop on quantum
28 in the theory of, and experiments on, quantum transport, magnetic nanodevices and spintronics
nano-systems and nano-structured materials. The brought together 68 researchers from three FoNE
Fundamentals of NanoElectronics (FoNE)
course was designed to acquaint postgraduate and CRPs, SpiCo, SPINCURRENT and SPINTRA.
postdoctoral researchers with the recent progress in The workshop aimed to cover state-of-the-art
the following areas: problems regarding the fabrication of spintronic
Electronic properties of the recently discovered devices, the interpretation of the physics involved
new two-dimensional material, graphene, and the in quantum electron transport of these systems and
recent progress in the quantum Hall effect and control with external sources. In particular, the very
spin-Hall effect in novel semiconductor struc- high possibility of coherent quantum manipula-
tures; tion of the spin; this requires a diffuse knowledge
The bosonisation technique and functional of the dissipation mechanisms involved and noise
renormalisation group methods in application measurements could provide this information.
to Luttinger liquid in quantum wires and carbon Efficient spintronic devices should achieve control
nanotubes, and the theory of the Kondo effect; of magnetic domain walls or vortices by means of
Theory of quantum information processing, phase the spin current carried by the electrons, better
coherence and de-coherence in qubits, coherent than by a magnetic field. The workshop consisted
exciton dynamics and optical properties of quan- of 28 lectures from invited speakers and research-
tum dots in microcavities; ers from the CRPs. Among the invited experts in
Adiabatic and non-adiabatic dynamics of quan- the field of nanoelectronics were Boris Altshuler
tum condensates of finite dimensions. (NEC-Columbia), Gerrit Bauer (TU Delft),
Giancarlo Faini (Marcoussis), Yves Henry (LPMSM,
Lectures in theoretical methods were complemented Vanduvre), Teruo Ono (Kyoto University), Dafin
by reviews of advanced experiments and research Ravelosona (CNRS-Orsay), Maurice Skolnick
seminars. 29 researchers participated in the sum- (University of Sheffield) and Gen Tatara (Tokyo
mer school and students were encouraged to present Metropolitan University). The workshop was
their own work at poster sessions (preceded by brief very informal, offering space for debate, scientific
introductory talks) and to compete for an Institute exchange and diffusion of know-how.
of Physics prize. More specifically, the following topics were
addressed:
Magnetic semiconductors and layered materi-
als, hybrid systems hetero-nano-structures, band
structure and carriers, spin-orbit interaction, mag-
netoconductance, anomalous Hall effect;
Spin currents and magnetic domain walls, current-
induced magnetic switching and dynamics in spin
valves, spin torque, spin filtering, superconductor/
ferromagnet proximity;
Quantum (spin dependent) transport in confined
geometries, spin relaxation and spin manipulation
in dots, wires and rings. Charge sensing, Kondo
resonant tunnelling.
physical phenomena related to spin-dependent ber) and Professor Merlyne de Souza (DEWINT
effects in semiconductors and advances in the devel- member). It formed an excellent platform for dis-
opment of new semiconductor spintronic materials, semination of some of the latest developments in
structures and devices. This included quantum the fields of spintronics and nanoelectronics, and
information hardware and concepts. The school discussed means of continuing activity beyond the
took place during the first half of the week to orient end of the FoNE EUROCORES programme.
students in this emerging field, and was followed by The main goals of the final FoNE conference in
a conference aimed at stimulating progress in the Madrid were two-fold:
fabrication, measurement and theory of semicon- Dissemination of results and activities. All
ductor spintronic systems. five main collaborative projects which formed
FoNE, i.e., SPINTRA, SPINCURRENT, SpiCo,
IMPRESS and DEWINT, each organised a half-
day scientific session. In these, in addition to
20-30 minute talks summarising project outcomes,
invited external speakers (about one for each of
the projects) gave more extended expert overviews.
In this aspect, the final FoNE conference was simi-
lar to the first one held in Taormina, Italy, in 2008.
Discussion of (i) the continuation of network
activities beyond the end of the projects and (ii)
final reporting. In addition to local project meet-
ings, joint meetings of principal investigators/
project leaders from all research groups were
organised to discuss plans for further research
collaboration.
Scientific highlights at the Diamond Light Source Inventors: F. Giazotto (NEST CNR-INFM Pisa),
synchrotron (SPINCURRENT) G. P. Pepe (CNR-INFM Coherentia, Napoli), T.
http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Beamlines/ Hekkila (TKK, LT Lab, Finland), P. Helistu (VTT
I06/casestudies/magnetic_devices.html IT, Finland), E. A. Luukanen (VTT MilliLab,
http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Beamlines/ Finland). (http://patent.prh.fi/patinfo/default.
I06/casestudies/magnetism.html. asp).
Professor Farkhad Aliev, Nanociencia: El futuro The Oxford arc-discharge reactor for synthesis
de detectores ultrasensibles de campo magntico, of carbon nanomaterials features in a Nanoseries
Unidad de Cultura Cientfica de la Universidad video clip about carbon nanotubes that can be
Autnoma de Madrid. seen at the following address:
http://www.madrimasd.org/informacionidi/noti- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VTfgaKL
cias/noticia.asp?id=39003&tipo=g AM&feature=related (IMPRESS).
http://www.universia.es/html_estatico/portada/
actualidad/noticia_actualidad/param/noticia/ Dr Benjamin, with input from Dr Morton, has
jjiai.html produced four podcasts on Nanotechnology on
http://www.navarrainnova.com/es/acercate/actu- http://itunes.ox.ac.uk/ (IMPRESS).
alidad/2009/04/20/15347.php
http://www.fys.es/fys/cm_view_tnoticia.asp?id=
2005495 (SPINTRA).
This section provides a summary of five activities AQDJJ joined both theoretical and experimental 35
at the ESF either recently completed or currently efforts with the aim:
39
projects on nanoscale photonics and superconduc- attendance at the FoNE conferences (DEWINT)
tivity could not be included explicitly, due to limited to multiple bi-partite exchanges within the most
resources, they were indirectly addressed within actively networking collaborations (SPINTRA).
some projects. Examples of the networking activities are the
various workshops, schools, and conferences organ-
ised in the framework of the FoNE programme:
1. Specific scientific achievements The 1st FoNE conference Nanoelectronics (July
2008) in Taormina, Sicily, organised by the 5
There were several internationally-competitive CRPs participating in the EUROCORES FoNE
highlights from the CRPs. Notable examples, with programme.
potential for future applications, include: The Pozzuoli workshop (December 2007) on
Realisation of spin chains on fullerenes, encap- Quantum Transport, Magnetic Nanodevices,
sulated in carbon nanotubes (peapods) and and Spintronics run jointly by SPINTRA, SpiCo,
measurement of spin properties. and SPINCURRENT.
Demonstration of a frequency-dependent spin The SPINTRA workshop organised in Poznan
torque resonator based on current-threshold mag- (January 2007).
netic domain-wall pinning physics. The 4th and 5th Windsor Summer Schools (August
Creation of a quantum resistance standard using 2007, August 2010) organised by V. Falko (SpiCo).
graphene on silicon carbide. The Capri Spring School on Transport in
Realisation of non-volatile control of ferromag- Nanostructures (March-April 2008) organised
netism with a ferroelectric gate a new kind of by A. Tagliacozzo (SPINTRA) and C. Marrows
multiferroic system. (SpinCurrent).
Theoretical demonstration of a channel field effect The Fifth International school and Conference
transistor using a graphene nanoribbon. on Spintronics and Quantum Information
World record Curie temperature (188 K) for a fer- Technology (SPINTECH V) organised in
romagnetic semiconductor. Cracow (July 2009) by T. Dietl (SPINTRA) and
Creation of a non-magnetic spin-photovoltaic D. Loss (SpiCo).
polarimeter that provides a direct electrical meas- The final FoNe conference at Miraflores de la
urement of light polarisation. Sierra (September 2009) organised by F. Aliev
(SPINTRA) and co-organised by C. Marrows
(SPINCURRENT) and M. de Souza (DEWINT)
confirmed the importance and impact of the
FoNE programme.
Training was generally excellent, with students The FoNE programme provided the oppor-
and early-stage researchers benefitting substantially tunity to recruit PhD students and postdoctoral
from the opportunities to visit other groups and to researchers, enabling the transfer of experimental
attend the conferences and workshops which have and theoretical methods between different research
been organised, both within and outside FoNE. laboratories. It also stimulated the dissemination of
Dissemination of research results was generally results, ideas and triggered new projects.
very good although variable as might be expected FoNE brought together leading European
from projects that are mainly very fundamental ori- researchers creating a fertile ground for the fur-
ented. Researchers targeted high impact journals, ther development of innovative ideas enhancing
whilst also giving an impressive number of confer- the dynamics and reputation of EUROCORES
ence presentations, invited talks and posters. programmes. This stimulated proposals for new
The recipients of dissemination should include national and EU programmes as well as interna-
as much as possible a wider audience for the public tional collaborations.
understanding of science, but this was not always The programme enabled different communi-
the case. There were a few examples where the ties, each with their own expertise, to pool and
excitement of nanoelectronics and quantum infor- enhance their resources. This created conditions
mation was presented to a more general audience for the stimulation of research activities through-
through newspaper articles and public demonstra- out Europe. 41
tions. Two notable examples of video lectures and