Scientific Highlights

3D image of a magnetic skyrmion

Skyrmion topology quantified in 3D

Researchers from an international collaboration between the United States of America and Switzerland have performed three-dimensional magnetic imaging of a magnetic skyrmion using soft X-ray laminography. This allowed for the investigation, in three dimensions, of the topological profile of the magnetic skyrmions.

multiferroicity-in-rnio3-perovskites

Elusive multiferroicity in RNiO3 perovskites

In our recent paper we examined YNiO3 and proved that the RNiO3 type material known for its metal-insulator transition is in fact a type II multiferroic. We provide direct evidence of an electric-field-driven switch of the noncolliear magnetic state finally confirming the proposed type II multiferroic nature of YNiO3.

Hu et al

Phonon promoted charge density wave in topological kagome metal ScV6Sn6

Charge density wave (CDW) orders in vanadium-based kagome metals have recently received tremendous attention, yet their origin remains a topic of debate. The discovery of ScV6Sn6, a bilayer kagome metal featuring an intriguing √3 × √3 × √3 CDW order, offers a novel platform to explore the underlying mechanism behind the unconventional CDW. Here we combine ...

Krieger et al

Weyl spin-momentum locking in a chiral topological semimetal

Spin–orbit coupling in noncentrosymmetric crystals leads to spin–momentum locking – a directional relationship between an electron’s spin angular momentum and its linear momentum. Isotropic orthogonal Rashba spin–momentum locking has been studied for decades, while its counterpart, isotropic parallel Weyl spin–momentum locking has remained elusive in experiments. Theory predicts ...

Tam et al

Flat-band hybridization between f and d states near the Fermi energy of SmCoIn5

We present high-quality angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and density functional theory calculations (DFT+U) of SmCoIn5. We find broad agreement with previously published studies of LaCoIn5 and CeCoIn5, confirming that the Sm 4f electrons are mostly localized. Nevertheless, our model is consistent with an additional delocalized Sm component, stemming from hybridization between the 4f electrons and the metallic bands at “hot spot” positions in the Brillouin zone. 

Hu et al

Phonon promoted charge density wave in topological kagome metal ScV6Sn6

Charge density wave (CDW) orders in vanadium-based kagome metals have recently received tremendous attention, yet their origin remains a topic of debate. The discovery of ScV6Sn6, a bilayer kagome metal featuring an intriguing √3 × √3 × √3 CDW order, offers a novel platform to explore the underlying mechanism behind the unconventional CDW. Here we combine ...

Paul Scherrer Institute / Procopios Constantinou

Extreme ultraviolet for scalable silicon quantum devices

Experiments at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) show the potential of extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) to make the building blocks of scalable quantum computers.

recrystallization_ebsd_teaser

Observing laser-induced recrystallization

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction sheds  light on laser-induced local recrystallization .

Excitons coupling to octahedral tilts in Pb nano-perovskites

Excitons coupling to octahedral tilts in Pb nano-perovskites

Excitons coupling to octahedral tilts in Pb nano-perovskites

Tv=60K scale on magnetization

Crystal field rules heavy fermion delocalization in SmCoIn5

Crystal field rules heavy fermion delocalization

Energy Storage Materials 2023

"Core-shell" cathodes for high performance Li-ion batteries

“Li-rich Ni-rich” core-shell particles are engineered as layered cathode materials for high energy Li-Ion batteries, including a controllable outer "Li-rich Mn-rich" shell improving cyclability.