Research Stay of Lars Thormählen

After numerous delays due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the great honor and opportunity to conduct my external scientific residency with the group led by Nian X. Sun at Northeastern University in Boston, USA. This group is dedicated to the study of highly sensitive magnetic materials used for various magneto-electric (ME) applications.

During my nearly three-month stay in Nian Sun's group, I had access to the main PVD sputtering system, which is not available in this form at Kiel University. This system is a 6-source cosputter system, which makes it possible to directly generate different material compositions by co-deposition. After some work on the mechanics and system components, I was able to use this system to produce material compositions of FeCoB, FeGaB and FeGaC. These are based on the scientific work of the group around Nian X. Sun and provide me with a new basis for investigations into alternative magnetic materials for the ME sensors used in our Collaborative Research Center 1261.

I would like to thank Nian X. Sun sincerely for the opportunity to visit and work in his research group and to get a great insight into the research being done by the staff and graduate students in the group. Also, I would like to thank the German Research Foundation (DFG) for the financial support of this research stay within the SFB 1261.

Lars Thormählen