PHYS/ASTR Colloquium: "Theory, Fabrication, and Testing of Acoustically Driven Ferromagnetic Resonance-based Magnetometers for Biosensing Applications" - Jeffrey Laprade (Senior Process Engineer, Sonera.io)

Title: "Theory, Fabrication, and Testing of Acoustically Driven Ferromagnetic Resonance-based Magnetometers for Biosensing Applications"

Abstract: Sonera has developed a novel thin-film magnetometer that addresses many challenges in magnetic sensing technology today, particularly in size, power, and cost. By leveraging the phenomenon of acoustically driven ferromagnetic resonance, we utilize magnon-phonon coupling to shift a thin magnetic film into resonance. Integrating this mechanism into an RF drive circuit enables a readout that depends on the magnetic field applied to the thin film, providing an electronic output corresponding to the field strength. These sensors have the potential to enable wearable, noninvasive gesture recognition, prosthetics, health monitoring, and numerous other applications.

Speaker Bio: Jeffrey Laprade is a Senior Process Engineer at Sonera, with previous experience as a Manufacturing Engineer at Energetiq Technology, an Engineering Technician at Applied Materials, and a Metrology Engineer at IBM. He also worked as a Process Technician at Stion Corporation. Jeffrey earned a B.S. in Physics from San Francisco State University in 2012, where he trained in quantum optics and thin films under Dr. Chen and Dr. Neuhauser. He has over 10 years of experience in vacuum systems, thin films, and semiconductor research and development, with a focus on EUV. Jeffrey is also an inventor, poet, and amateur mycologist.