Spin Physics in Graphene Nanostructures

Abstract: Atomic-scale control over size, shape, and composition of graphene nanostructures has become a reality through on-surface synthesis whereby suitably designed precursor molecules are assembled and reacted on a metal substrate under vacuum conditions. This has led to the realization of fascinating open-shell nanographenes and nanoribbons with interesting topological, magnetic, and electron transport properties.

In this talk I will discuss our theoretical contributions to understand emerging π-magnetism observed experimentally by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in a range of graphene nanostructures [1-6]. The emergence of localized electron spins in these structures appear as promising candidates for applications in quantum technologies, provided that the interaction with their environment can be controlled. Here I will mention our efforts to characterize (i) electron spin coherence in the presence of hyperfine coupling to nuclear spins and (ii) electron beam splitting and spin transport in multi-terminal devices composed of crossed graphene nanoribbons [7-8].

This work is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 863098 (SPRING) and the Spanish AEI (grant no PID2020-115406GB-I00) 

Schedule

11:30a-11:35a General discussion and introductions
11:35a-11:40a Intro to MURI team and concept (Levy)
11:40a-11:50a Blitz talk #1  Davis Welakuh Mbangheku
11:50a-12:00p Blitz talk #2 - Jeremy Levy
12:00p-12:50p Thomas Frederiksen- Spin physics in graphene nanostructure
12:50p-1:00p Discussion and wrap up