MagTop is an acronym of the International Centre for Interfacing Magnetism and Superconductivity with Topological Matter, the Division ON-6 of Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IF PAN), supervised by International Scientific Committee.
Over 2017-2023, MagTop operated within the International Research Agendas Programme of the Foundation for Polish Science, supported by the European Regional Development Fund under Smart Growth Operational Programme (SG OP), Priority Axis 4: Increasing the research potential, Measure 4.3: International Research Agendas (IRAs).
Over 2024-2029, MagTop will operate within the International Research Agendas FENG Programme – https://www.fnp.org.pl/oferta/miedzynarodowe-agendy-badawcze-mab-feng/. The application of MagTop has been successful (see News-link), and the Funding Agreement was signed.
The grant, awarded to MagTop Leader Tomasz Dietl provides funding of almost 30.0 million PLN (about 7 M€).
On January 2024, MagTop management prepared a report presenting MagTop’s accomplishments in the years 2017-2023.
Project title: International Centre for Interfacing Magnetism and Superconductivity with Topological Matter – MagTop (FENG.02.01-IP.05-0028/23)
Tasks and activities to be implemented under the project:
The core activity of Centre MagTop, as one of International Research Agenda R&D excellence centres located at the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, is directed at solving grand challenges of topological matter interfaced with magnetism and superconductivity, and discovering experimentally and theoretically new materials and unanticipated topology-related phenomena, which will enlarge research horizons in this field and indicate possible new market-relevant applications. MagTop’s motto is: „Experimental results and applications inspire theory; theory inspires materials development and applications”.
Target groups:
The Centre MagTop, with its innovative approach and focus on advanced materials and technologies, will bring significant benefits by increasing the availability of scientific resources to research centers, the industrial sector, and society. Each of these target groups will be able to use the project’s results for their own purposes, which will translate into overall technological and social development. The Centre MagTop has already established cooperation agreements with the Central Office of Measures and six high-technology companies, with which MagTop has developed patents, publications, and implementations. The MAB/FENG project will enable increased cooperation in the field of applications of materials and topological phenomena.
Objectives and outcomes of the project:
In the MagTop project, in addition to searching for unforeseen today new phenomena and technological inventions, MagTop’s researchers aim to achieve seven ambitious objectives related to:
Project value: 29 995 000,00 zł
Amount of European Funds contribution: 29 995 000,00 zł
Tomasz Dietl is a MagTop’s PI, Head of the Division ON-6, and the Theory Group Leader at the Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences. He was a visiting professor at Kepler University in Linz, Fourier University in Grenoble, Tohoku University in Sendai, Paris Sud University in Orsay, and Regensburg University. His current research interests are focused on the development of material systems and device concepts for nanospintronics of topological insulators, ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic semiconductors, and of hybrid metal/semiconductor nanostructures. He is recipient of Maria Skłodowska-Curie Award in Poland (1997); Alexander von Humboldt Research Award in Germany (2003); Agilent Technologies Europhysics Prize (2005) with David D. Awschalom and Hideo Ohno, for pioneering works that paved the way for the emergence of semiconductor spintronics; Foundation for Polish Science Prize (2006), and the Marian Smoluchowski Medal of the Polish Physical Society (2010). In 2008 Tomasz Dietl obtained an Advanced Grant (FunDMS) of the European Research Council.
Tomasz Wojtowicz, experimental physics professor, MagTop’s Co-PI, Deputy Head of the Division ON-6 and the MBE Group Leader at the Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences. He worked abroadat various research centres in Europe, Japan, and the United States (including visiting professor appointment at the University of Notre Dame and visiting scholar appointment at Purdue University) for more than seven years. He is a world-renowned specialist in technologies for fabricating nanostructures using molecular beam epitaxy method. Nanostructures produced by himself and under his supervision at IFPAN in Warsaw were studied at a large number of research institutions areound the world contributing to advancements in many areas of solid state physics. His current research interests are focused on developmening concepts and growth technologies for novel material systems and devices, which would bring magnetism and superconductivity into topological matter either directly (e.g., via doping with magnetic ions) or by interfacing topological matter with magnetic and/or superconducting materials in hybrid structures. He was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. In 2013 he was recognized for his scientific accomplishments with the prestigious Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for Distinguished Achievement in the Category of Basic Research. He has directed a number of research projects, including the prestigious Maestro project from the National Science Centre (Poland). He has received a Fulbright fellowship, a Mistrz/Master professorial grant from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), and a foreign visit study grant from the FNP.