SpinOptronics Laboratory

• We have found quasi-equilibrium proximity effect that occurs due to p-d exchange interaction between magnetic atoms of ferromagnetic and holes in semiconductor quantum wells. During an experiment we have shown that such interaction is transferred by elliptically polarized shapes of the ferromagnetic.
• On the basis of the discovered effect we have developed a method for electric control of magnetization intensity of hybrid heterostructures to manipulate magnetic and electric qualities through electrical interfaces on the surface.
• We have discovered and studied a new phenomenon – formation of macroscopic magnetic moment in non-magnetic semiconductor nanocrystals CdSe that is caused by formation of surface magnetic polarons. We have theoretically predicted various scenarios of formation of a surface magnetic polaron in non-magnetic semiconductor nanocrystals.
• Our researchers have found surface canter of recombination in industrial silicon plates as well as in field effect transistors and in silicon photodetectors – using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. We have detected symmetry and parameters of new center and determined their models.
• We have determined mechanisms of spin relaxation of manganese in ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga(Mn)As. We have developed a theory of spin relaxation that can be applied to other ferromagnetic semiconductors.
• Our researchers have created a cryomagnetic scanning near-field optical microscope (KM-BSOM) that works in the spectral range between 300 and 1000 nm at temperatures between 1,5 and 300 К and magnetic fields of up to 12 Т. Usage of KM-BSOM allowed for discovery of a Wigner localization of electrons as well as finding formation of electron modes of whispering-gallery in single-ion InP/GaInP quantum dots.
• We have created an electronic paramagentic resonance spectrometer, optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of 2-mm and 3-mm 3-mm ranges (95 and 130 GHz); an ODMR spectrometer has been created that is based on a confocal microscope with high spatial resolution (at submicron level).

Implemented results of research:

• We have created and patented the following products: optical magnetometer and spectrometer of electron paramagnetic resonance with increased resolution. Areas of applications of developed devices include a wide spectrum of research problems in chemistry and physics.

Education and career development:

• We have developed and launched 3 lecture courses read by employees of the Laboratory at the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University: «Defects physics», «Electron magnetic resonance spectroscopy», «Special problems of semiconductor physics and condensed state physics».
• Every year from 5 to 10 students, from 5 to 10 postgraduates and from 1 to 5 young scientists complete internships at the Laboratory.
• We have conducted 5 scientific schools: 1. School and meeting «Spin physics» devoted to scientific and pedagogical activities of I.A. Merkulov (2014) 2. International School and conference «Single Dopants» (2014) 3. Meeting on semiconductor theory (2016). 4. International conference «Spin Physics, Spin Chemistry and Spin Technology» (2015). 5. International School and Seminar «Excitons in semiconductors and semiconductor nanostructures» to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of E. F. Gross (2017). 
• 3 doctoral dissertations, 4 candidate dissertations, 4 masters dissertations have been defended

Organizational and structural changes:

In collaboration with the Saint Petersburg State University and TU Dortmund (Germany) the Laboratory participated in creation of the first Russian-German Center of modern research «International Collaborative Research Centre» (ICRC). Joint project «Coherent manipulation of interacting spin excitations in tailored semiconductors» has been supported by DFG and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research with funding span of 12 years.

Collaborations:

• TU Dortmund (Germany): joint research, student exchange, joint scientific events
• German Research Foundation – DFG (Germany): joint projects within grants
• University of Notre Dame (USA), University of Turku (Finland), Keio University (Japan): joint work in spectroscopy of single semiconductor quantum dots, in dynamic polarization of nuclear moments in silicon, and in paramagnetic center on surfaces and inside silicon crystals
• University of Toulouse (France), Autonomous University of Mexico State (Mexico): joint work to test theoretical and experimental research of impact of ultra-thin interactions in the deep paramagnetic center on spin-dependent recombination and optical orientation in semiconductors- Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research in defects in semiconductor materials
• Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland): joint research in spin relaxation in spin relaxation non semiconductors