Cristina Bran

Dr. Cristina Bran

CSIC - Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), Cantoblanco, Spain
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

23Years (2004-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 February 2025 in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
GGGianluca Gubbiotti
Gianluca Gubbiotti
ABAnjan Barman
Anjan Barman
SLSAM LADAK
SAM LADAK
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
DGDirk Grundler
Dirk Grundler
APAmalio Fernandez Pacheco
Amalio Fernandez Pacheco
The transition from planar to three-dimensional (3D) magnetic nanostructures represents a significant advancement in both fundamental research and practical applications, offering vast potential for next-generation technologies like ultrahigh-density storage, memory, logic, and neuromorphic computing. Despite being a relatively new field, the emergence of 3D nanomagnetism presents numerous opportunities for innovation, prompting the creation of a comprehensive roadmap by leading international researchers. This roadmap aims to facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary dialogue to address challenges in materials science, physics, engineering, and computing. The roadmap comprises eighteen sections, roughly divided into three blocks. The first block explores the fundamentals of 3D nanomagnetism, focusing on recent trends in fabrication techniques and imaging methods crucial for understanding complex spin textures, curved surfaces, and small-scale interactions. Techniques such as two-photon lithography and focused electron beam-induced deposition enable the creation of intricate 3D architectures, while advanced imaging methods like electron holography and synchrotron x-ray tomography provide nanoscale spatial resolution for studying magnetization dynamics in three dimensions. Various 3D magnetic systems, including coupled multilayer systems, artificial spin-ice, magneto-plasmonic systems, topological spin textures, and molecular magnets are discussed. The second block introduces analytical and numerical methods for investigating 3D nanomagnetic structures and curvilinear systems, highlighting geometrically curved architectures, interconnected nanowire systems, and other complex geometries. Finite element methods are emphasized for capturing complex geometries, along with direct frequency domain solutions for addressing magnonic problems. The final block focuses on 3D magnonic crystals and networks, exploring their fundamental properties and potential applications in magnonic circuits, memory, and spintronics. Computational approaches using 3D nanomagnetic systems and complex topological textures in 3D spintronics are highlighted for their potential to enable faster and more energy-efficient computing.

29 May 2018 in ACS Nano
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
EBEider Berganza
Eider Berganza
Jose Angel Fernandez-RoldanJose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
Jose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
EPEster M. Palmero
Ester M. Palmero
JMJessica Meier
Jessica Meier
MVManuel Vazquez
Manuel Vazquez

8 January 2016 in Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
EBE. Berganza
E. Berganza
EPEster M. Palmero
Ester M. Palmero
Jose Angel Fernandez-RoldanJose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
Jose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
Rafael Perez Del RealRafael Perez Del Real
Rafael Perez Del Real
MVManuel Vazquez
Manuel Vazquez
The surface and the internal magnetic structure of bamboo-like cylindrical nanowires with tailored diameter modulations have been determined exploiting the direct photoemission and transmission contrasts using photoemission electron microscopy combined with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, as well as complementary magnetic force microscopy and micromagnetic simulations. Bamboo-like cylindrical nanowires with diameters of 130 and 140 nm, and a modulation periodicity of 400 nm were electrochemically grown into the pores of alumina templates. FeCoCu and Co nanowires were selected to offer parallel and perpendicular magnetization easy axis, respectively. For FeCoCu nanowires, a main longitudinal magnetization configuration is found consistent with the predominant shape anisotropy. In addition, a weaker modulated contrast along the wires’ axis is observed that matches the position of each diameter modulation: vortex-like structures are observed at the ends of the wires and at the surface around the modulations. In Co nanowires, a multi-segmented vortex-like structure with alternating opposite chirality is found not matching the periodicity of the diameter modulations. Such a spin configuration is interpreted considering that Co nanowires exhibit hexagonal symmetry with c axis nearly perpendicular to the nanowires defining strong uniaxial transverse magnetocrystalline anisotropy.

12 February 2018 in Nanoscale
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Jose Angel Fernandez-RoldanJose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
Jose Angel Fernandez-Roldan
Rafael Perez Del RealRafael Perez Del Real
Rafael Perez Del Real
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
MVManuel Vazquez
Manuel Vazquez
OCOksana Chubikalo-Fesenko
Oksana Chubikalo-Fesenko
We report a novel pinning type in modulated nanowires: the “corkscrew”. The magnetization in wide segments forms a skyrmion-tube with a helical core along the nanowire.

6 October 2016 in ACS Nano
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
LRLuis Alfredo Rodríguez
Luis Alfredo Rodríguez
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
DRDavid Reyes
David Reyes
EBEider Berganza
Eider Berganza
MVManuel Vazquez
Manuel Vazquez
AAAsenjo Agustina
Asenjo Agustina

11 July 2016 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EBEider Berganza
Eider Berganza
CBCristina Bran
Cristina Bran
Miriam Jaafar Ruiz-CastellanosMiriam Jaafar Ruiz-Castellanos
Miriam Jaafar Ruiz-Castellanos
MVManuel Vazquez
Manuel Vazquez
AAAsenjo Agustina
Asenjo Agustina
The three dimensional nature of cylindrical magnetic nanowires has opened a new way to control the domain configuration as well as the magnetization reversal process. The pinning effect of the periodic diameter modulations on the domain wall propagation in FeCoCu individual nanowires is determined by Magnetic Force Microscopy, MFM. A main bistable magnetic configuration is firstly concluded from MFM images characterized by the spin reversal between two nearly single domain states with opposite axial magnetization. Complementary micromagnetic simulations confirm a vortex mediated magnetization reversal process. A non-standard variable field MFM imaging procedure allows us to observe metastable magnetic states where the propagating domain wall is pinned at certain positions with enlarged diameter. Moreover, it is demonstrated that it is possible to control the position of the pinned domain walls by an external magnetic field.