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University of Regensburg
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Research

Proximity Effects

Proximity effects in two-dimensional (2D) materials open a rich pathway to engineer new quantum phases. We investigate how 2D van der Waals heterostructures – such as graphene in contact with magnetic materials or materials exhibiting strong spin-orbit coupling – can induce exchange coupling and spin-orbit interactions without doping. In twisted and gated heterostructures, these proximity-induced properties can be tuned by twist angle, local stacking, and electric fields. In graphene, it even enables topological edge states and correlated phases when combined with flat-band physics. This bottom-up design promises novel spintronics devices with low dissipation and high tunability.

Proximity spin-orbit coupling can be harnessed to tune the band structure (opens enlarged image)
Proximity spin-orbit coupling can be harnessed to tune the band structure.
Distinguishing ferro- and antiferromagnetic proximity exchange (opens enlarged image)
Distinguishing ferro- and antiferromagnetic proximity exchange.
The interplay of both – proximity spin-orbit and exchange couplings – gives unprecedented control over the total band structure and transport properties (opens enlarged image)
The interplay of both – proximity spin-orbit and exchange couplings – gives unprecedented control over the total band structure and transport properties.

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