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“Collaboration is particularly important in quantum research”
PSI researcher Kirsten Moselund talks about quantum technologies – about their importance and the current situation in Switzerland. And about her own research in the field of nanophotonics.
Laser draws made-to-order magnetic landscapes
Researchers at PSI have found a surprisingly inexpensive and fast method to make localised alterations in magnetic materials.
Two-dimensional gradients in magnetic properties created with direct-write laser annealing
Across the fields of magnetism, microelectronics, optics, and others, engineered local variations in material properties can yield groundbreaking functionalities that play a crucial role in enabling future technologies. One-dimensional lateral gradients in material properties give rise to a plethora of new effects in thin-film magnetic systems. However, extending such gradient-induced behaviors to two dimensions has been challenging to realize experimentally. Here, we demonstrate the creation of two-dimensional complex patterns with continuous variations in magnetic anisotropy, interlayer exchange coupling, and ferrimagnetic compensation at the mesoscopic scale in numerous application-relevant magnetic materials. We exploit our engineered gradients in material properties to demonstrate novel magnetic functionalities, including the creation of a spin wave band pass filter and an architecture for passively resetting the position of a magnetic domain wall. Our results highlight the exciting new physics and device applications enabled by two-dimensional gradients in thin film properties.
X-rays bring high-resolution brain mapping within reach
A new imaging breakthrough could reveal brain connectivity in 3D detail never before accessible.
Swiss PIC technology transfer centre is inaugurated
Jointly founded by scientific and industrial partners with PSI researchers: the Swiss Photonics Integration Center celebrated its inauguration on 24 November 2025.
Atoms under pressure
Zurab Guguchia puts pressure on matter – and in doing so, creates exciting quantum effects such as superconductivity at more easily achievable temperatures.
Unravelling the coexistence of insulating and metallic-like excitations in SrIrO₃
A team led by researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI used resonant inelastic X-ray scattering to probe spin and charge fluctuations in atomically engineered SrIrO₃. The results revealed that insulator-like and metallic-like modes can simultaneously emerge in a correlated 5d semimetal, advancing the understanding of “strange metal” behaviour in spin–orbit coupled systems.
From Melt to Martensite
Real-time synchrotron X-ray diffraction reveals how different phases of steel emerge and evolve under the intense heat of laser powder bed fusion.
Terbium duet and other quantum art
To create more stable qubits, PSI researchers make terbium ions perform in pairs. Elsewhere, they are using optical tweezers to position atoms with high precision.
Single-Photon-Counting Detection for Soft X-rays Down to 530 eV
The PSI Photon Science Detector Group has developed the first single-photon-counting pixel detector capable of detecting soft X-rays down to 530 eV. This breakthrough was achieved by combining EIGER readout chips with novel inverse LGAD sensors, developed in collaboration with and fabricated at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy). The detector is now in user operation for ptychographic applications, where it has already enabled significant scientific results at the Fe L₃-edge (707 eV) and even at the O K-edge (530 eV), demonstrating superior detection performance compared to commercially available state-of-the-art detectors.
Slowing time and trapping ions
Cornelius Hempel uses quanta to perform calculations on quantum phenomena. While this sounds logical, it’s actually highly complex. His latest coup: a quantum simulator that slows down time.
Disorder begins at the surface of quantum materials
Ultrafast X-rays from SwissFEL reveal unexpected light responses in quantum materials.
Tuning chirality amplitude at ultrafast timescales in chiral CsCuCl3
We quantify “how chiral” a crystal is, and demonstrate its tunability at ultrafast timescales. This achievement does open up a new direction in chirality-related condensed matter physics and on emergent phenomena, which have both attracted significant attention recently.
Merlin-7: New model for high-performance computing
An innovative computing cluster is ushering in a new era of computer-aided research at PSI.
PSI’s cement whisperer
John Provis has dedicated his research career to a building material that is far more exciting than you might think.
Aperiodic Chiral Tiling by Molecular Self-Assembly
The 2D self-arrangement of a molecule that resembles three-armed spirals leads to a triangular pattern that is effectively aperiodic.
Machine Learning Accelerates Alloy Design for Additive Manufacturing
A new machine learning–designed alloy demonstrates how materials can be tailored for specific performance properties required in additive manufacturing.
The Quantum Revolution: What's Next?
A century on from the birth of quantum mechanics, 2025 marks the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. What does the future hold? Our experts share their opinions.
Zinc detected in clogged syringes
With the help of researchers at PSI, ANAXAM has been investigating, on behalf of the pharmaceutical company MSD, whether zinc may contribute to clogging of pre-filled syringes.
Demystifying electron ptychography with the PtychoScopy tool
The open-source PtychoScopy tool guides users towards higher quality and faster electron ptychographic reconstructions.
Peering into matter with ultrashort X-ray ripples
An all-X-ray transient grating experiment allows scientists to study the dynamics of quantum particles at the nanoscale.
Cracking the Challenge of Steel–Copper Fusion
Why do cracks appear when joining steel and copper? We track the mechanisms in real time to find out.
Attorney for cutting-edge technology
Former PSI doctoral candidate Stephanie Smit now works as a patent attorney for a company that is among the most important in the world. That’s because this company builds machines that are worth a fortune and are highly sought after.
Transmutex at PSI Hotlab
Transmutex produces design and software for an accelerator-driven reactor able to transmute long-lived transuranic nuclides and fission products from the classic Uranium cycle for power production.
Benefits such as Nuclear waste volume reductions above a factor of 6 and HAW lifetime reductions to << 1000 years will be attained.
Breeding U-233 in Th fuel in the reactor integrates Transmutex’s design with existing commercial PHWR and LWR in providing fuel and fissionable material for their continued operation.
At PSI hotlab, Transmutex develops the manufacturing of porous metal pellets aiming to produce experimental Th pellets for further investigation utilizing PSI’s and hotlabs’ research capabilities. The new design will unify the advantages of metallic fuel such as high fissile density, ease of fabrication, and more while mitigating classic issues of compact metallic fuel related to the buildup of fission gas.
Successfully produced inactive analogues are illustrating the prove of concept of the design.
Interfacial Phase Formation in 316L–CuCrZr Hybrids
In-situ X-ray diffraction reveals how phase separation and fluid flow shape microstructure in laser-welded multi-material metal builds.
Phase by Phase: How Stainless Steel and IN625 Solidify Together
Where steel meets superalloy: real-time X-ray snapshots reveal how composition and cooling shape metal during 3D printing
Prestigious research grant for photonic networks
PSI researcher Kirsten Moselund has been awarded a major research grant from the European Research Council ERC.
Steering magnetic textures with electric fields
Neutrons reveal a new way to control magnetism at the nanoscale
Stabilising fleeting quantum states with light
X-rays from SwissFEL probe emergent properties of quantum materials
Gold nanoparticle dynamics on graphene probed by convergent beam electron diffraction.
Dynamics of single Au nanoparticles on graphene were probed simultaneously in real- and diffraction space by time-series convergent beam electron diffraction.
Science meets industry – innovation with an impact
Hans Priem and Cees Maris of VDL ETG explain what advanced manufacturing means in industry and talk about their collaboration with PSI.
ESA Centre of Excellence opens in Switzerland
The opening ceremony of the “European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre” ESDI brought together distinguished guests.
Decoding radiation
Searching for radiation from the sky. How a sensitive detector and a clever algorithm are making ionising radiation visible.
Faster, more precise, more reliable – the future of manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing means using state-of-the-art production methods. Researchers at PSI are helping to make techniques such as 3D printing more reliable and to advance the miniaturisation of high-performance chips.
Correcting quantum errors with neutral-atom architectures
Wenchao Xu talks about the benefits and challenges of building quantum computers from neutral atoms.
Aluminium made visible
PSI researchers have for the first time determined the exact position of the aluminium atoms in zeolites, which make these materials such good catalysts.
Nanostructure orientation in 3D with visible light by Tomographic Müller-Polarimetric Microscopy
We developed a new method, tomographic Müller-polarimetric microscopy (TMPM), that allows to retrieve at three-dimensional microscopic resolution the nanoscale structural information of the ultrastructure probed with polarized light in a non-destructive manner using a low cost and experimentally simple optical setup.
Antiferrodistortive and ferroeletric phase transitions in freestanding films of SrTiO3
Epitaxially grown thin films are commonly used to strain engineer electronic properties by the choice of a substrate, and therefore do not match bulk properties (leading to properties that deviate from the bulk material). Free standing ultrathin oxide films are expected to preserve the bulk-like properties due to the absence of substrate influence. However, we show that this expectation is not fulfilled with ultrathin free standing SrTiO3, as they get ferroelectric at 80K.
Rethinking 3D Printing for ceramics
Using a powerful combination of in-situ X-ray imaging and high-fidelity simulations, researchers uncover how alumina behaves under laser-based 3D printing—paving the way for more reliable ceramic additive manufacturing.
A new dimension of complexity for layered magnetic materials
X-rays reveal magnetic phenomena driven by interactions between the layers of a kagome ferromagnet
Unique quantum simulator opens door to new research
PSI physicists have teamed up with Google to build a new type of digital-analogue quantum simulator.
Texture and residual stress evolution during 3D printing
Discover how advanced neutron diffraction sheds light on the evolution of stress and texture in 3D-printed duplex stainless steel.
“The biggest challenge is lacking public acceptance of wind turbines”
In an interview with ETH News, Russell McKenna, an expert in energy system analysis, explains where he sees the greatest need for action in order to further develop wind energy.
Mitigating Cracks in Multi-Material Printing
Integrating metallic powders with thin foils in laser powder bed fusion can reduce interfacial cracks and improve microstructure quality in titanium-aluminum multi-material printing.
Mapping the Nanoscale Architecture of Functional Materials
A new X-ray technique reveals the 3D orientation of ordered material structures at the nanoscale, allowing new insights into material functionality.
New widgets and extensions expand the OSSCAR platform for educational notebooks in materials science
In a new article published in Computer Physics Communications, the team of the Open Software Services for Classrooms and Research project (OSSCAR) describes how to create custom widgets and extensions that can be used in interactive notebooks to teach computational materials science. The article also introduces two new entries in OSSCAR: a widget to display an interactive periodic table that allows users to group elements into different states, and one to plot and visualize electronic band structures and density of states.
Anionic Disorder and Its Impact on the Surface Electronic Structure of Oxynitride Photoactive Semiconductors
The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy, stored in the form of hydrogen, bears enormous potential as a sustainable fuel for powering emerging technologies. Photoactive oxynitrides are promising materials for splitting water into molecular oxygen and hydrogen. However, one of the issues limiting widespread commercial use of oxynitrides is degradation during operation. While recent studies have shown the loss of nitrogen, its relation to reduced efficiency has not been directly and systematically addressed with experiments. In this study, we demonstrate the impact of the anionic stoichiometry of BaTaOxNy on its electronic structure and functional properties. Through experimental ion scattering, electron microscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopy investigations, we determine the anionic composition ranging from the bulk toward the surface of BaTaOxNy thin films. This further serves as input for band structure computations modeling the substitutional disorder of the anion sites. Combining our experimental and computational approaches, we reveal the depth-dependent elemental composition of oxynitride films, resulting in downward band bending and the loss of semiconducting character toward the surface. Extending beyond idealized systems, we demonstrate the relation between the electronic properties of real oxynitride photoanodes and their performance, providing guidelines for engineering highly efficient photoelectrodes and photocatalysts for clean hydrogen production.
Acoustic emission signature of a martensitic transformation
Acoustic emission monitoring in 3D printing: real-time insights into martensitic phase transformations and crack formation.