Valleytronics[22-03-2024, Friday]

Imagine a light switch. Normally, a switch has two positions: up (on) and down (off). Valleytronics
is like having a special switch with three positions: a flat middle and two little dips on either side.
•The flat middle is like a "maybe" position. No information.
•One dip is like "on" and the other dip is like "off."

Instead of using a switch, valleytronics uses special materials where tiny particles (electrons) can be
in different valleys. By controlling which valley the electrons are in, we can store information
(on/off) like a switch.

introduction [25-03-2024, Monday]

• when atoms close together to form a crystals and their electron interact with each other. The
formation of valleys is a result of the interactions between electrons and the of the crystal lattice.
• This interaction creates energy band that determine how material conducts electricity
• In semiconductors there are 2 main bands in valance band (electron normally reside), conduction
band (electron can move into when excited).
• The gap between these bands called band gap. No electron can exist in normal conditions.
• In some semiconductors, there are some specific region in the conduction band called Valleys.
These valleys has same energy level but different crystal orientation.
• When electron are excited across the band gap into these valleys, they have the same energy level
but different momenta depending upon the crystal axis.
• Valley polarization:manipulating the energy levels of electrons in different valleys, external
electric or magnetic fields, optical excitation, or other control mechanisms. By selectively
populating one valley over another, valley polarization enables control over the electronic
properties and behavior of charge carriers in the material.
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI)
is a special kind of interaction between the spins of atoms in a material. It occurs because of the
material's internal structure and how electrons move around within it. This interaction affects how
magnetic properties behave in the material and is important for certain advanced technologies like
spin-based electronics.