Scientific Highlights
Direct Observation of Magnetic Metastability in Individual Iron Nanoparticles
Studying the magnetization of individual iron (Fe) nanoparticles by magnetic spectromicroscopy reveals that superparamagnetic (SPM) and ferromagnetic blocked (FM) nanoparticles can coexist in the investigated size range of 8-20 nm.
Comprehensive study of the spin-charge interplay in antiferromagnetic La2-xSrxCuO4
The origin of the pseudogap and its relationship with superconductivity in the cuprates remains vague. In particular, the interplay between the pseudogap and magnetism is mysterious. Recent low-temperature angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments on the underdoped cuprate superconductors indicate the presence of a fully gapped Fermi surface (FS); even in the antiferromagnetic phase.
Unique insight into carbon fibers on the nanoscale
Novel carbon materials are promising candidates for light and robust low-cost materials of the future. Understanding their mechanical properties benefits from highly resolved three-dimensional (3D) maps of their porosity and density fluctuations in uninterrupted representative volumes, but these are difficult to obtain with conventional imaging methods.
X-ray tomography reaches 16 nm isotropic 3D resolution
Tomographic microscopy has become an invaluable imaging method in both life and materials sciences. Oftentimes, high resolving power is required simultaneously with the ability to characterize large, statistically representative sample volumes. To this task, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institut have established ptychographic computed tomography.
Spintronics: deciphering a material for future electronics
Topological insulators are the key to future spintronics technologies. EPFL scientists have unraveled how these strange materials work, overcoming one of the biggest obstacles on the way to next-generation applications.Read the full story
Supervolcano eruptions driven by melt buoyancy in large silicic magma chambers
Super-eruptions that dwarf all historical volcanic episodes in erupted volume and environmental impact are abundant in the geological record. Such eruptions of silica-rich magmas form large calderas. The mechanisms that trigger these supereruptions are elusive because the processes occurring in conventional volcanic systems cannot simply be scaled up to the much larger magma chambers beneath super volcanoes.
Single Domain Spin Manipulation by Electric Fields in Strain Coupled Artificial Multiferroic Nanostructures
Encoding information by the application of an electric field has a key role in the development of novel memory devices that can operate at high speed while keeping low energy consumption. In magnetoelectric multiferroics, magnetic and ferroelectric ordering coexist and are coupled together so that it is possible to manipulate the material's magnetic structure by applying an electric field with a negligible current flow.
Tiny Magnets as a Model System
Scientists use nano-rods to investigate how matter assembles
In the microscopic world, everything is in motion: atoms and molecules vibrate, proteins fold, even glass is a slow flowing liquid. And during each movement there are interactions between the smallest elements - for example, the atoms - and their neighbours. To make these movements visible, scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed a special model system.
Atomic motions untangled
The pursuit of capturing motion in a movie bears an obvious fascination irrespective of the time scales involved. In the atomic and molecular world where the masses are so light and the distances small the relevant time scale shifts to the subpicosecond range and the motions become frantic especially for larger molecular systems.