Adding SPICE to Spin Phenomena

The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has opened its new Spin Phenomena Interdisciplinary Centre (SPICE), created to address the challenges of shortening discovery times of novel phenomena and creation of new multi-functional advanced materials that need the knowledge of more than one field to emerge. SPICE is sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

The new research centre at Mainz University focuses on spin phenomena because they are present in many areas of materials and fundamental science. The spin can be explained as the rotation of the electron around its own axis generating a magnetic field. This is the basis of today’s information storage technology and has provided new design possibilities in many fields of application: from faster electronics to new high-capacity data storage concepts up to new ways to create advanced materials with directly designed properties. Because the spin belongs to the fundamental basics of quantum mechanics, which rules the microscopic world, it fascinates not only both experimentally and theoretically working physicists and chemists, but also mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers.

“The idea of SPICE is to bring together researchers from different disciplines to tackle the hardest scientific challenges at a level that each field could not achieve on its own,” said Professor Jairo Sinova, Managing Director of SPICE and holder of an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship at the Institute of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. “The best scientific learning and discovery occurs outside one’s comfort zone. At SPICE we want to create a challenging and inspiring atmosphere that encourages our scientists to take unconventional perspectives and to look beyond the current frontiers of spin-related science.” Sinova imagines a fruitful exchange not only with natural scientists: “Even literary scholars or artists dealing with the issue are welcome partners.”

For the coming months a variety of workshops are planned. In August 2015, the inaugural “Young Leaders Group Research Workshop” will take place at Kloster Johannisberg for the first week and will then continue at Mainz University. The top young researchers involved will focus their attention on “Frontiers with Strongly Correlated and Topological Mesoscopic Systems.”