Fully Magnetically Polarized Ultrathin LaSrMnO Films.

We report the observation of fully magnetically polarized ultrathin LaSrMnO films by using LaMnO and LaSrMnO buffer layers grown epitaxially on SrTiO(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Specifically, we show that LaSrMnO films grown on 12-unit-cell LaMnO have bulk-like magnetic moments starting from a single unit cell thickness, while for the 15-unit-cell LaSrMnO buffer layer, the LaSrMnO transitions from an antiferromagnetic state to a fully spin-polarized ferromagnetic state at 4 unit cells. The magnetic results are confirmed by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, while linear dichroic measurements carried out for the LaSrMnO/LaSrMnO series show the presence of an orbital reorganization at the transition from the antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic state corresponding to a change from a preferred in-plane orbital hole occupancy, characteristic of the A-type antiferromagnetic state of LaSrMnO, to preferentially out of plane.

The Swiss Light Source and SwissFEL at the Paul Scherrer Institute.

At the Paul Scherrer Institute, two electron accelerator-based photon sources are in operation, namely a synchrotron source, the swiss light source (SLS), and an X-ray free-electron laser, SwissFEL. SLS has been operational since 2001 and SwissFEL since 2017. In this time, unique and world-leading scientific programs and methods have developed from the SLS and the SwissFEL in fields as diverse as macromolecular biology, chemical and physical sciences, imaging, and the electronic structure and behaviour of novel and complex materials.

Absence of a pressure gap and atomistic mechanism of the oxidation of pure Co nanoparticles.

Understanding chemical reactivity and magnetism of 3d transition metal nanoparticles is of fundamental interest for applications in fields ranging from spintronics to catalysis. Here, we present an atomistic picture of the early stage of the oxidation mechanism and its impact on the magnetism of Co nanoparticles. Our experiments reveal a two-step process characterized by (i) the initial formation of small CoO crystallites across the nanoparticle surface, until their coalescence leads to structural completion of the oxide shell passivating the metallic core; (ii) progressive conversion of the CoO shell to CoO and void formation due to the nanoscale Kirkendall effect.

High frequency characterization of Si N dielectrics for artificial magnetoelectric devices.

Unlabelled: Charge mediated magnetoelectric coupling mechanism in artificial multiferroics originates from interfacial charge modulation or ionic movement at a magnetic/dielectric interface. Despite the existence of several dielectric/ferroelectric systems that can be used in charge mediated artificial multiferroic systems, producing suitable systems with fast time responses still remains a challenge. Here we characterize the frequency response of stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric (low strain) Si N thin film membranes, which can potentially be used as the dielectric layer in magnetoelectric devices, to determine the impact of depletion layers, charge traps and defect mobility on the high frequency (up to 100 MHz) interfacial charge modulation via screening.

Influence of free charge carrier density on the magnetic behavior of (Zn,Co)O thin film studied by Field Effect modulation of magnetotransport.

The origin of (ferro)magnetic ordering in transition metal doped ZnO is a still open question. For applications it is fundamental to establish if it arises from magnetically ordered impurity clusters embedded into the semiconducting matrix or if it originates from ordering of magnetic ions dilute into the host lattice. In this latter case, a reciprocal effect of the magnetic exchange on the charge carriers is expected, offering many possibilities for spintronics applications.

The EIGER detector for low-energy electron microscopy and photoemission electron microscopy.

EIGER is a single-photon-counting hybrid pixel detector developed at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. It is designed for applications at synchrotron light sources with photon energies above 5 keV. Features of EIGER include a small pixel size (75 µm × 75 µm), a high frame rate (up to 23 kHz), a small dead-time between frames (down to 3 µs) and a dynamic range up to 32-bit.

Single-shot Monitoring of Ultrafast Processes via X-ray Streaking at a Free Electron Laser.

The advent of x-ray free electron lasers has extended the unique capabilities of resonant x-ray spectroscopy techniques to ultrafast time scales. Here, we report on a novel experimental method that allows retrieving with a single x-ray pulse the time evolution of an ultrafast process, not only at a few discrete time delays, but continuously over an extended time window. We used a single x-ray pulse to resolve the laser-induced ultrafast demagnetisation dynamics in a thin cobalt film over a time window of about 1.

Giant reversible anisotropy changes at room temperature in a (La,Sr)MnO3/Pb(Mg,Nb,Ti)O3 magneto-electric heterostructure.

In a model artificial multiferroic system consisting of a (011)-oriented ferroelectric Pb(Mg,Nb,Ti)O3 substrate intimately coupled to an epitaxial ferromagnetic (La,Sr)MnO3 film, electric field pulse sequences of less than 6 kV/cm induce large, reversible, and bistable remanent strains. The magnetic anisotropy symmetry reversibly switches from a highly anisotropic two-fold state to a more isotropic one, with concomitant changes in resistivity. Anisotropy changes at the scale of a single ferromagnetic domain were measured using X-ray microscopy, with electric-field dependent magnetic domain reversal showing that the energy barrier for magnetization reversal is drastically lowered.

Electric field stimulation setup for photoemission electron microscopes.

Manipulating magnetisation by the application of an electric field in magnetoelectric multiferroics represents a timely issue due to the potential applications in low power electronics and the novel physics involved. Thanks to its element sensitivity and high spatial resolution, X-ray photoemission electron microscopy is a uniquely suited technique for the investigation of magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic materials. In this work, we present a setup that allows for the application of in situ electric and magnetic fields while the sample is analysed in the microscope.

Human xylosyltransferases--mediators of arthrofibrosis? New pathomechanistic insights into arthrofibrotic remodeling after knee replacement therapy.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common therapeutic option to restore joint functionality in chronic inflammatory joint diseases. Subsequent arthrofibrotic remodeling occurs in 10%, but the underlying pathomechanisms remain unclear. We evaluated the association of xylosyltransferases (XT), fibrotic mediators catalyzing glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, leading to arthrofibrosis as well as the feasibility of using serum XT activity as a diagnostic marker.

Effect of substrate interface on the magnetism of supported iron nanoparticles.

In situ X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy is used to investigate the magnetic properties of iron nanoparticles deposited on different single crystalline substrates, including Si(001), Cu(001), W(110), and NiO(001). We find that, in our room temperature experiments, Fe nanoparticles deposited on Si(001) and Cu(001) show both superparamagnetic and magnetically stable (blocked) ferromagnetic states, while Fe nanoparticles deposited on W(110) and NiO(001) show only superparamagnetic behaviour. The dependence of the magnetic behaviour of the Fe nanoparticles on the contact surface is ascribed to the different interfacial bonding energies, higher for W and NiO, and to a possible relaxation of point defects within the core of the nanoparticles on these substrates, that have been suggested to stabilise the ferromagnetic state at room temperature when deposited on more inert surfaces such as Si and Cu.

Nanoscale sub-100 picosecond all-optical magnetization switching in GdFeCo microstructures.

Ultrafast magnetization reversal driven by femtosecond laser pulses has been shown to be a promising way to write information. Seeking to improve the recording density has raised intriguing fundamental questions about the feasibility of combining ultrafast temporal resolution with sub-wavelength spatial resolution for magnetic recording. Here we report on the experimental demonstration of nanoscale sub-100 ps all-optical magnetization switching, providing a path to sub-wavelength magnetic recording.

In situ magnetic and electronic investigation of the early stage oxidation of Fe nanoparticles using X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy.

We present an in situ experimental investigation of the magnetic and electronic properties of individual iron nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 8 to 22 nm as a function of oxygen exposure (0-80 L), using X-ray photoemission electron microscopy. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy results show that, irrespective of size and magnetic state, the early stages of the Fe nanoparticle oxidation occur through the initial formation of a non-magnetic FeO-like layer, followed by a progressive transformation of the latter to Fe3O4. At 80 L, the metallic iron core and the outer Fe3O4 shell are separated by a thin FeO layer.

Reflections on a measurement of the gravitational constant using a beam balance and 13 tons of mercury.

In 2006, a final result of a measurement of the gravi- tational constant G performed by researchers at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, was published. A value of G=6.674252(122)×10 m kg s was obtained after an experimental effort that lasted over one decade.

Reaching the magnetic anisotropy limit of a 3d metal atom.

Designing systems with large magnetic anisotropy is critical to realize nanoscopic magnets. Thus far, the magnetic anisotropy energy per atom in single-molecule magnets and ferromagnetic films remains typically one to two orders of magnitude below the theoretical limit imposed by the atomic spin-orbit interaction. We realized the maximum magnetic anisotropy for a 3d transition metal atom by coordinating a single Co atom to the O site of an MgO(100) surface.

Direct observation of magnetic metastability in individual iron nanoparticles.

X-ray photoemission electron microscopy combined with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used to study the magnetic properties of individual iron nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 20 down to 8 nm. While the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of bulk iron suggests superparamagnetic behavior in this size range, ferromagnetically blocked particles are also found at all sizes. Spontaneous transitions from the blocked state to the superparamagnetic state are observed in single particles and suggest that the enhanced magnetic energy barriers in the ferromagnetic particles are due to metastable, structurally excited states with unexpected life times.

Investigating magneto-chemical interactions at molecule-substrate interfaces by X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy.

The magneto-chemical interaction of spin-bearing molecules with substrates is interesting from a coordination chemistry point of view and relevant for spintronics. Unprecedented insight is provided by X-ray photo-emission electron microscopy combined with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Here the coupling of a Mn-porphyrin ad-layer to the ferromagnetic Co substrate through suitably modified interfaces is analyzed with this technique.

Origin of interface magnetism in BiMnO3/SrTiO3 and LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures.

Possible ferromagnetism induced in otherwise nonmagnetic materials has been motivating intense research in complex oxide heterostructures. Here we show that a confined magnetism is realized at the interface between SrTiO3 and two insulating polar oxides, BiMnO3 and LaAlO3. By using polarization dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy, we find that in both cases the magnetism can be stabilized by a negative exchange interaction between the electrons transferred to the interface and local magnetic moments.

Direct observation of thermal relaxation in artificial spin ice.

We study the thermal relaxation of artificial spin ice with photoemission electron microscopy, and are able to directly observe how such a system finds its way from an energetically excited state to the ground state. On plotting vertex-type populations as a function of time, we can characterize the relaxation, which occurs in two stages, namely a string and a domain regime. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations agree well with the temporal evolution of the magnetic state when including disorder, and the experimental results can be explained by considering the effective interaction energy associated with the separation of pairs of vertex excitations.

Single domain spin manipulation by electric fields in strain coupled artificial multiferroic nanostructures.

We demonstrate in situ 90° electric field-induced uniform magnetization rotation in single domain submicron ferromagnetic islands grown on a ferroelectric single crystal using x-ray photoemission electron microscopy. The experimental findings are well correlated with micromagnetic simulations, showing that the reorientation occurs by the strain-induced magnetoelectric interaction between the ferromagnetic nanostructures and the ferroelectric crystal. Specifically, the ferroelectric domain structure plays a key role in determining the response of the structure to the applied electric field, resulting in three strain-induced regimes of magnetization behavior for the single domain islands.

The effect of magnetic anisotropy on the spin configurations of patterned La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO3 elements.

We study the effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the magnetic configurations of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 bar and triangle elements using photoemission electron microscopy imaging.