Exploring antiferromagnetic order at the nanoscale with a single spin microscope
EXAFONIS objectives venture into the emerging field of antiferromagnetic (AF) spintronics. By exploiting the unique performances offered by scanning NV-magnetometry, two major objectives will be pursued. The first objective aims at providing a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the microscopic mechanisms at the origin of AF manipulation when subjected to different external stimuli, including strain, electric fields and spin-polarized currents. Such studies still remain an almost uncharted research territory, despite highly-valuable promises of antiferromagnets for future spintronics devices providing fast, low-consumption and high-density storage capabilities. The second objective aims at demonstrating the first detection and efficient manipulation of magnetic skyrmions in an antiferromagnet. As such, EXAFONIS will pioneer the field of topological antiferromagnetic spintronics.