Placement Information
Year you started your placement
2015
Placement period
May – August, September – December
Supervisor’s name
Andreas Schnyder
Project Details
Overview
Magnetic impurities in an s-wave superconductor induced Shiba bound-states. A chain of magnetic impurity spins leads to a band of Shiba bound states, whose band structure is similar to an effective p-wave pairing states. Therefore there appear Majorana states at the end of the spin chain. Similarly, a two-dimensional array of impurity spins leads to an effective (p_x + i p_y)-pairing state with chiral Majorana edge modes.
Project objectives
The goal of this project is to study the interplay between spin-orbit coupling and Shiba impurity states that are formed at an interface between a Skyrmion lattice and an s-wave superconductor. We will derive the conditions under which Majorana modes can form at such an interface.
Research outcomes
Project status
Completed
AlexToews – 2015 – Presentation
My Co-op Experience at MPI
Why did you apply for a placement with Max Planck Institute?
After three co-op terms in Vancouver, I was ready to jump out of the comfort zone and live somewhere completely new. I was also very interested in getting more research experience. When I heard what a great time some of my friends were having at MPI, I had to apply.
What recommendations do you have for students who wish to participate in MPI-UBC exchange program?
Take as many relevant physics courses as you can before coming, and expect to learn a lot more on the job too. There is generally a guest house available for your first few months in Germany, but do not underestimate the challenge of finding an affordable place to live for the remainder of your stay. Apply early and often to apartment postings, especially here: http://www.wg-gesucht.de/
You can definitely survive in Germany with only English, but your experience will be greatly improved if you can make a consistent effort to learn German. This will especially help with way-finding, buying food and drink, meeting new people, and especially finding good flatmates.
Tell us about your travels and cultural experiences in Germany and the rest of the Europe
Without a doubt, the time I have spent in Europe over the last 6 months has been life-changing. Europe is very densely populated with different cultures, languages, people, and attractions, and with Stuttgart’s central location, there is plenty to see and do within a day’s drive. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 20 different cities in almost 10 different countries around Europe, so you could say I’ve become a bit of a travel junkie!
I highly recommend using https://www.couchsurfing.com/ and https://www.blablacar.de/ to minimize your accommodation and travel costs. Plus, couchsurfing and ridesharing is often more fun than hotels and trains anyway!
