Scientific Highlights

•Future Technologies
•7 min

Batman lights the way to compact data storage

Materials research SLS

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have succeeded in switching tiny, magnetic structures using laser light and tracking the change over time. In the process, a nanometre-sized area bizarrely reminiscent of the Batman logo appeared. The research results could render data storage on hard drives faster, more compact and more efficient.

Magnetization dynamics inside a 5 µm x 5 µm structure.(a) Time-resolved PEEM images using XMCD as a magnetic contrast mechanism recorded at a given time delay t after the laser pulse and (b) extracted XMCD contrast as a function of the time delay t for three different ROI, defined in the inset image by the coloured area superimposed on the non-dichroic X-ray absorption of the structure. The 0° incoming laser direction with respect to the structure edge is indicated in the inset by the laser in-plane wave v…

Nanoscale sub-100 picosecond all-optical magnetization switching in GdFeCo microstructure

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.

Magnetic moment measured by XMCD and resistivity as a funtion of temperature for two different piezostrain states

Control of Tc in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 via piezostrain

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements evidence a 10K shift of the magnetic Curie temperature for La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 deposited on the piezoelectric substrate [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.68−[PbTiO3]0.32 (011) for two different remanent piezostrain states.