Thermal Transport through Atomic Junctions at Cryogenic Temperatures

High-precision measurements at the atomic scale are essential for the advancement of next generation electronic devices and materials science. Achieving such precision requires a highly controlled environment, free from disturbances like vibrations, electromagnetic interference, and temperature fluctuations. IBM Research Zurich hosts some of the best shielded nanotechnology labs in the world, the

Noise-Free Labs

, which are designed to meet these rigorous requirements. Here, we employ cutting-edge techniques to explore complex phenomena, including quantized phonon transport and thermal conduction in atomic and molecular junctions, paving the way for breakthroughs in thermal management for future technologies.

Your Project: This project investigates heat transport at the nanoscale, employing metallic atomic junctions as a one-dimensional model to study electrical and thermal transport at the atomic level, where quantum effects emerge. Previous studies at room temperature have verified the Wiedemann-Franz law in these one-dimensional systems, demonstrating the proportionality between electrical and thermal conductance due to electron-dominated heat transport. In this project, we employ the STM-BJ (Scanning Tunneling Microscope Break Junction) technique, which allows for the precise formation and control of atomic-scale junctions, to explore heat transport at cryogenic temperatures where deviations from the Wiedemann-Franz law are expected due to the phonon contribution. Through these measurements, this research aims to advance our understanding of nanoscale heat transport, an area that has been primarily studied theoretically but remains underexplored experimentally.

, with co-supervision from PhD student Valentina Grieci, and will have access to world-class research infrastructure.

Diversity: IBM is committed to

diversity

at the workplace. With us you will find an open, multicultural environment. Excellent flexible working arrangements enable all genders to strike the desired balance between their professional development and their personal lives.

References

[1] Nature Nanotech 12, 430–433 (2017)
[2] Rev. Sci. Instrum. 92, 123704 (2021)
[3] Nano Lett. 18, 7358−7361 (2018)