Christian Heiliger

Prof. Dr. Christian Heiliger is a faculty member at the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences II - Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His research focuses on the theoretical investigation of electronic transport phenomena in quantum systems.

Using ab initio methods rooted in density functional theory (DFT), he specializes in the quantum theory of solid-state systems, particularly tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) in Fe/MgO/Fe junctions. His work explores how interfacial structure, barrier thickness, and atomic configurations of leads influence TMR ratios, revealing critical insights into voltage dependence, saturation effects, and the role of MgO's complex band structure.

His doctoral research demonstrated that even a single ferromagnetic Fe monolayer near the barrier can produce high TMR ratios. This foundational work has implications for spintronics and nanoscale device design.