My name is Kevin Weber, a Swiss citizen living in Brest since my enrolment in the SEED MSCA COFUND program.
Who are you and what is your background?
My name is Kevin Weber, from Zürich, Switzerland. My academic and professional journey began with an apprenticeship as an automation technician, which laid the foundation for my technical expertise. I later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies at ETH Zürich, where I gained a strong engineering background but realized I wanted to dive deeper into physics.
To address this, I enrolled into the newly established Quantum Engineering Master’s program at ETH Zürich, a joint initiative between the physics and electrical engineering departments. During my studies, I focused on quantum optics, photonics, and control systems. For my Master’s thesis, I designed a cavity setup within a vacuum chamber for levitating silica nanoparticles using optical tweezers. This project not only deepened my understanding of experimental quantum systems, but also my interests in physics.
What is your PhD research/ topic about?
My PhD research focuses on using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center microscopy to measure spin waves, also known as magnons, and to push the boundaries of this imaging technique. NV microscopy is well-established for imaging static magnetic fields, but my work aims to extend its capabilities to dynamic magnetic phenomena like spin waves.
The benefits of NV center microscopy include its non-invasive nature, nanoscale resolution, and the ability to operate under ambient conditions, making it a powerful tool complementing the conventional magnon imaging techniques like Brillouin light scattering (BLS) or ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). By using this approach, I aim to generate detailed spatial and temporal maps of diverse spin wave profiles and shapes. Additionally, my research might explore imaging possibilities of advanced complex phenomena like beam shaped caustic spin waves devices, further showcasing the versatility of NV center microscopy.
What are the big challenges to be tackled and possible future impacts?
The major challenge in my research is designing and optimizing a module for imaging dynamic magnetic fields, specifically spin waves, using NV center microscopy. This requires not only improving the hardware, but also producing and working with innovative thin film samples that highlight the unique capabilities of NV microscopy.
Demonstrating how well-suited NV center microscopy is for imaging spin waves could position it as a promising tool in magnetic imaging. By comparing NV center microscopy with other state-of-the-art magnetic imaging techniques like BLS and FMR, my research contributes to a deeper understanding of the advantages and limitations of these approaches.
In the long term, this work could lead to a better understanding of the nanoscale magnetic field behaviour around spin wave emitters and receivers, essential components for magnon-based technologies, enabling future improvements of their design.
What is the configuration of your PhD research?
My PhD research is an industrial track and involves regular missions from IMT Atlantique in Brest, France to my cosupervising industry partner QZabre located in Zürich, Switzerland. This opportunity of mobility is essential for progressively developing the research topic, allowing flexibility to adapt the time spent in each location as needed.
QZabre offers an outstanding expertise in NV center technologies and provides for my project access to their cutting-edge industrial microscopes.
After a few weeks embarked as PhD fellow at IMT Atlantique, what is your first feeling about the programme and your institution?
After a few weeks as a PhD fellow at IMT Atlantique, I feel very positive about the program and the host institution. Being part of the SEED program is a great opportunity, as it provides an interesting framework for international collaborations with excellent industrial partners.
The research group is friendly and supportive, having made the start into my PhD much easier. While my French is gradually improving, it still remains a challenge for which I look optimistic into the future.
