Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Hybrid Topological Insulator/Ferromagnetic Heterostructures and Devices

Topological materials are currently one of the most studied areas in condensed matter physics, in no small part due to the success of using molecular beam epitaxy to create devices that demonstrate their topological properties. Interactions between magnetism and the spin-polarized surface states of topological insulators are a particularly rich area within this field. This covers topics as fundamental as topological phase transitions, to as practical as room temperature memory devices using spin-orbit torques. The growth, fabrication, and characterization of these magnetic heterostructures reveal some of the challenges of using these materials, but have also demonstrated the great potential they have to revolutionize the field of spintronics.