Markus Donath

Professor Markus Donath leads a research group at the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Münster. His research focuses on surface physics and spintronics, specializing in sophisticated spectroscopic techniques for analyzing electron spin in two-dimensional systems and surfaces. His group investigates unoccupied electronic states using angle-resolved inverse photoemission and spin-resolved techniques.

Donath's research interests center on spin phenomena in dimensionally reduced solids, particularly the electronic structure of surfaces and interfaces. His work explores how electron spin can be utilized in novel electronic components, with emphasis on surface alloys where heavy elements like bismuth, thallium, or lead are embedded in atomic layers of metals. His group examines spin-orbit effects, Rashba splitting, and the interplay between exchange and spin-orbit interactions in ultrathin films and surface alloys.

His recent publications demonstrate expertise in characterizing unoccupied electronic states through inverse photoemission, with focus on surface resonances, Tamm and Shockley states, and spin-dependent hybridization phenomena. The research spans various material systems including Pt(111), Re(0001), Tl/Ag(111), and Fe₃O₄(100), revealing intricate details of spin textures and electronic band structures.

Professor Donath has received funding from the German Research Foundation and collaborates internationally with institutions including the University of Halle-Wittenberg and Hiroshima University in Japan. His group includes multiple doctoral candidates, scientists, and technical staff members working on various aspects of surface physics and spintronics.

His research group actively supervises numerous doctoral students including Christoph Angrick, Marcel Holtmann, Patrick Geers, Sven Schemmelmann, and Dane-Vincent Schlünz, who contribute to projects spanning electronic structure characterization, spin-resolved spectroscopy, and novel instrumentation development for surface science applications.