The Bernina group works on experimental studies of beyond-equilirium ultrafast phenomena in condensed matter. It develops and operates the Bernina Instrument of SwissFEL, which is presently under commissioning and performing first experiments. The group arises from the FEMTO group at the Swiss Light Source.
Scientific Highlights and News
Topological defects determine evolution of charge density wave phase transition
Total scattering signals collected at SwissFEL reveal the role of topological defects when switching properties of a charge density wave material. The defect formation and dynamics after laser excitation reveals new insights into the functionality of quantum materials.
Controlling magnetic waves in a spin liquid
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have shown that excitation of a spin liquid with intense THz pulses causes spins to appear and align within less than a picosecond. This induced coherent state causes a magnetic field to form inside the material, which is detected using ultrashort X-ray pulses at the X-ray Free Electron Laser SwissFEL.
Short x-ray pulses reveal the source of light-induced ferroelectricity
Ultrafast measurements of the fluctuating atomic positions in the quantum paraelectric SrTiO3 after mid-infrared light excitation, reveal details about the creation of the material’s ferroelectric state.