Modern computers store information in tiny magnetic bits that encode the “0” and “1” of digital data. As our world becomes increasingly data-driven, the need for faster and more energy-efficient information processing continues to grow. Femtosecond laser pulses have already ushered in a new era of ultrafast magnetic recording, with the potential to reach data transfer speeds exceeding 1 Tb/s.
Yet speed comes at a cost. The faster we attempt to switch magnetic states, the more energy is irreversibly converted into heat. The efficiency of energy exchange between spins and the crystal lattice imposes fundamental limits on how rapidly and efficiently magnetism can be controlled in spintronics, magnonics, and magnetic data storage technologies. Understanding how energy and angular momentum are transferred between spins and lattice vibrations (on what timescales, and with what dissipation) remains one of the central challenges in the field. Addressing this challenge is the core objective of this project.
Atomic vibrations provide the crucial link. UPSHIFT tackles this problem by actively controlling lattice vibrations using intense terahertz (THz) electric pulses. These unique capabilities are available at Radboud University in Nijmegen, specifically at the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) and the HFML-FELIX. This infrastructure enables controlled, reversible modification of the crystal structure without inducing permanent deformation.
The project focuses on multiferroic materials, in which magnetic order is strongly coupled to electric polarization and atomic motion. In such systems, deliberate structural distortions provide a direct handle on spin–lattice interactions and the pathways of energy transfer. By tracking how energy flows between spins, lattice vibrations, and electrons, UPSHIFT aims to identify, quantify, and ultimately benchmark the fundamental mechanisms governing ultrafast, energy-efficient magnetic switching, paving the way toward next-generation data storage and computation technologies.
