Pieter Gunnink

I am Pieter Gunnink, a Post-Doc in theoretical physics, at the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, working in the group of Dr. Alexander Mook. I have been awarded a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (Oct 2024–Jun 2025), and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (Jul 2025–Jun 2026). These fellowships will take place at the JGU Mainz, in both the INSPIRE group of Prof. Sinova and the TopMagIc group of Dr. Alexander Mook.

My research interests are in magnon transport, with a focus on topology. I have also worked on dipolar interactions in magnon systems and spin transfer torque effects in mesoscopic systems.

Research Interests

Magnon topology
Various topological phases have been predicted in magnonic systems, but to date none has been directly observed. This can in large part be attributed to the high frequency of the topological edge states. My primary interest is to develop alternative ways to probe magnon topology, such as in non-equilibrium and through non-Hermitian control.
Magnon topology
Spin-transfer torque in mesoscopic systems
The spin-transfer torque is a versatile element in spintronics, converting an electrical current into a torque on a magnetic system. Understanding the spin-transfer torque requires the understanding of the complex non-equilibrium state that is created when the magnet is driven intro preccesion, giving rise to surprising effects.
Spin-transfer torque in mesoscopic systems
Dipole-dipole interactions
Dipole-dipole interactions are ubiqitious in magnonic systems. Because of its long-range character, the dipole-dipole can give rise to unique symmetry-breaking effects, such as transverse spin currents and the magnon Hall effect.
Dipole-dipole interactions

Recent Publications

(2024). Electrical Non-Hermitian Control of Topological Magnon Spin Transport. Phys. Rev. B 110, 014407.

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(2024). Magnon spin capacitor. Appl. Phys. Lett. 124, 182404.

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(2024). Charge conservation in spin-torque oscillators leads to a self-induced torque. Phys. Rev. B 109, 024408.

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(2023). Detection of Geometric Phases in Spin Waves using Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers. arXiv:2312.08137.

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(2023). Zero-frequency chiral magnonic edge states protected by nonequilibrium topology. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 126601.

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Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Post-doc
October 2023 – Present

My interests are in non-Hermitian spintronics: the study of the spin degree of freedom in a non-Hermitian context. To study this, I loop at a wide range of spintronics systems, with a special interest in their couplings. Other topics I am interested in are dipolar interactions in magnetic systems, (non-Hermitian) topology and spin transfer torque effects in mesoscopic systems.

I have been awarded a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (Oct 2024-Jun 2025), and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (Jul 2025-Jun 2026). These fellowships will take place in both the INSPIRE group of Prof. Sinova and the (TopMagIc group of Dr. Alexander Mook)[https://mook-group.uni-mainz.de/] in Mainz.

 
 
 
 
 
PhD Student
September 2019 – September 2023

PhD thesis: Non-equilibrium topology in magnonic systems
Supervisor: Prof. dr. R.A. Duine

I worked on topology in magnon transport and electrical detection, exploring how to measure a variety of topological effects in magnon systems.

 
 
 
 
 
MsC in Applied Physics
University of Twente
August 2017 – August 2019 Enschede, The Netherlands

Master’s thesis title: Engineering a topological insulator

Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. A. Brinkman

 
 
 
 
 
BsC in Applied Physics
University of Twente
August 2013 – August 2017 Enschede, The Netherlands

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