Latest News Here you find current and previous news from the NUM division. For scientific highlights, please have a look here. Titel - Select -20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008 Year - Select -JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember Month 01.08.2023 Emergent Magnetism with Continuous Control in the Ultrahigh-Conductivity Layered Oxide PdCoO2 The current challenge to realizing continuously tunable magnetism lies in our inability to systematically change properties, such as valence, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom, as well as crystallographic geometry. Here, we demonstrate that ferromagnetism can be externally turned on with the application of low-energy helium implantation and can be subsequently erased and returned to the pristine state via annealing. 10.07.2023 •Fundamentals of Nature •7 min Mystery of microgels solved Further information aboutSINQ Researchers at PSI and the University of Barcelona can explain the strange shrinking of microgels experimentally. 27.06.2023 Coupling of magnetic phases at nickelate interfaces In this paper we present a model system built out of artificially layered materials, allowing us to understand the interrelation of magnetic phases with the metallic-insulating phase at long length scales, and enabling new strategies for the design and control of materials in devices. The artificial model system consists of superlattices made of SmNiO3 and NdNiO3 layers, – two members of the fascinating rare earth nickelate family, having different metal-to-insulator and magnetic transition temperatures. By combining two complementary techniques .... 26.06.2023 Resonant Elastic X-Ray Scattering of Antiferromagnetic Superstructures in EuPtSi3 We report resonant elastic x-ray scattering of long-range magnetic order in EuPtSi3, combining different scattering geometries with full linear polarization analysis to unambiguously identify magnetic scattering contributions. At low temperatures, EuPtSi3 stabilizes type A antiferromagnetism featuring various long- wavelength modulations. For magnetic fields applied in the hard magnetic basal plane, well-defined regimes of cycloidal, conical, and fanlike superstructures may be distinguished that encompass a pocket of commensurate type A order without superstructure. 23.06.2023 Defect Profiling of Oxide-Semiconductor Interfaces Using Low-Energy Muons Muon spin rotation with low-energy muons (LE-μSR) is a powerful nuclear method where electrical and magnetic properties of surface-near regions and thin films can be studied on a length scale of ≈200 nm. This study shows the potential of utilizing low-energy muons for a depth-resolved characterization of oxide-semiconductor interfaces, i.e., for silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (4H-SiC). The performance of semiconductor devices relies heavily on the quality of the oxide-semiconductor interface; thus, investigation of defects present in this region is crucial to improve the technology. 19.06.2023 Shea Distinguished Member Award of IEEE NPSS to Stefan Ritt The Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society of IEEE acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Dr. Stefan Ritt in terms of technological developments and services to the NPSS community with the 2023 Richard F. Shea Distinguished Member Award. 09.06.2023 Tuning magnetoelectricity in a mixed-anisotropy antiferromagnet Control of magnetization and electric polarization is attractive in relation to tailoring materials for data storage and devices such as sensors or antennae. In magnetoelectric materials, these degrees of freedom are closely coupled, allowing polarization to be controlled by a magnetic field, and magnetization by an electric field, but the magnitude of the effect remains a challenge in the case of single-phase magnetoelectrics for applications. 16.05.2023 Marino Missiroli elected Trigger Coordinator of the CMS experiment at CERN Marino Missiroli, a postdoctoral researcher in the High-Energy Particle Physics group of the Laboratory for Particle Physics (LTP) in NUM, will join the management team of the CMS experiment at CERN as Trigger Co-Coordinator in September 2023. 10.05.2023 •8 min Laura Heyderman elected Royal Society Fellow Laura’s nomination recognises almost 30 years of research into magnetic materials and magnetism on the nanoscale. 10.05.2023 A deep look into hydration of cement Researchers led by the University of Málaga show the Portland cement early age hydration with microscopic detail and high contrast between the components. This knowledge may contribute to more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. 26.04.2023 Nodeless electron pairing in CsV3Sb5-derived kagome superconductors The newly discovered kagome superconductors represent a promising platform for investigating the interplay between band topology, electronic order and lattice geometry. Despite extensive research efforts on this system, the nature of the superconducting ground state remains elusive. In particular, consensus on the electron pairing symmetry has not been achieved so far, in part owing to the lack of a momentum-resolved measurement of the superconducting gap structure. Here we report ... 24.04.2023 Quantum disordered ground state in the triangular-lattice magnet NaRuO2 It has long been hoped that spin liquid states might be observed in materials that realize the triangular-lattice Hubbard model. However, weak spin–orbit coupling and other small perturbations often induce conventional spin freezing or magnetic ordering. Sufficiently strong spin–orbit coupling, however, can renormalize the electronic wavefunction and induce anisotropic exchange interactions that promote magnetic frustration. 19.04.2023 Active learning-assisted neutron spectroscopy with log-Gaussian processes Neutron scattering experiments at three-axes spectrometers (TAS) investigate magnetic and lattice excitations by measuring intensity distributions to understand the origins of materials properties. The high demand and limited availability of beam time for TAS experiments however raise the natural question whether we can improve their efficiency and make better use of the experimenter’s time. 05.04.2023 •Future Technologies •13 min Jupiter mission to explore conditions conducive to life Further information aboutParticle physics Ganymede, Callisto and Europa: Jupiter’s icy moons are the destination of the upcoming ESA mission. On board: a high-tech detector developed by PSI. 03.04.2023 Amyloid-polysaccharide interfacial coacervates as therapeutic materials Coacervation via liquid-liquid phase separation provides an excellent oppor- tunity to address the challenges of designing nanostructured biomaterials with multiple functionalities. Protein-polysaccharide coacervates, in particular, offer an appealing strategy to target biomaterial scaffolds, but these systems suffer from the low mechanical and chemical stabilities of protein-based condensates. Here we overcome these limitations by transforming native proteins into amyloid fibrils and demonstrate ... 16.03.2023 •7 min Muonic X-rays peer into brooch from Roman city Using Muon Induced X-ray Emission, researchers could reveal the inner composition of a knob-bow fibula, excavated at Augusta Raurica in northern Switzerland. 14.03.2023 A practical guide to pulsed laser deposition Nanoscale thin films are widely implemented across a plethora of technological and scientific areas, and form the basis for many advancements that have driven human progress, owing to the high degree of functional tunability based on the chemical composition. Pulsed laser deposition is one of the multiple physical vapour deposition routes to fabricate thin films, employing laser energy to eject material from a target in the form of a plasma ... 14.02.2023 •6 min How to squash things carefully A new in situ uniaxial pressure cell at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI gives scientists unrivalled control to tweak quantum materials microscopically and tune their properties. 08.02.2023 Visualizing Higher-Fold Topology in Chiral Crystals Novel topological phases of matter are fruitful platforms for the discovery of unconventional electromagnetic phenomena. Higher-fold topology is one example, where the low-energy description goes beyond standard model analogs. Despite intensive experimental studies, conclusive evidence remains elusive for the multigap topological nature of higher-fold chiral fermions. In this Letter, we leverage a combination of fine-tuned chemical engineering and photoemission spectroscopy with photon energy contrast to discover the higher-fold topology of a chiral crystal. 07.02.2023 Commissioning of the novel Continuous Angle Multi-energy Analysis spectrometer at the Paul Scherrer Institut We report on the commissioning results of the cold neutron multiplexing secondary spectrometer CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multi-Energy Analysis) at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. CAMEA is optimized for ... 02.02.2023 •Large research facilities •17 min More light in the darkness Further information aboutParticle physics Further information aboutIMPACT Further information aboutCHRISP At PSI, researchers want to fill the missing gaps in the Standard Model of particle physics with the help of the large research facilities. 31.01.2023 •6 min Unconventional superconductivity found in kagome metal Physicists using muon spin spectroscopy at PSI make the missing link between their recent breakthrough in Nature and unconventional superconductivity 19.01.2023 Fate of charge order in overdoped La-based cuprates In high-temperature cuprate superconductors, stripe order refers broadly to a coupled spin and charge modulation with a commensuration of eight and four lattice units, respectively. How this stripe order evolves across optimal doping remains a controversial question. Here we present a systematic resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of weak charge correlations in La2−xSrxCuO4 and La1.8−xEu0.2SrxCuO4. Ultra high energy resolution experiments demonstrate the importance of the separation of inelastic and elastic scattering processes. 30.12.2022 •Future Technologies •7 min Further optimising car brakes Further information aboutSINQ Research scientists at PSI and ANAXAM use neutrons to look inside brake callipers and identify potential ways of reducing CO2 emissions. 19.12.2022 •Large research facilities •4 min A two-part upgrade for the proton accelerator Further information aboutMaterials research Further information aboutMedical Science Further information aboutParticle physics Further information aboutRadiopharmacy Further information aboutIMPACT Further information aboutCHRISP A two-part upgrade is planned for HIPA starting in 2025. Preparations are already under way. 01.12.2022 Appointment of Thomas Lippert as new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX) Starting 1. December 2022, Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Lippert will be the new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX). He follows Prof. Dr. Laura Heyderman, our first laboratory head who successfully formed and established the LMX in the PSI landscape as a Centre of Materials. 28.11.2022 •9 min Making sense of the muon’s misdemeanours An exotic atom called muonium could explain why muons won’t stick to the rules, believe researchers using the Swiss Muon Source at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. 25.11.2022 The Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instruments visits FRM II neutron research facility Recently, the staff of the PSI’s Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation (LIN) visited our colleagues at MLZ to learn more about the FRM II reactor and its instrumentation, as well as to discuss current and future joint projects. LIN staff was greeted with Bavarian hospitality in the form of “Weisswurst Frühstück” and then enjoyed a full tour of the facility and many fruitful discussions. 21.11.2022 •8 min Upgraded pixel detector back in action at CERN Built at Paul Scherrer Institute, the detector forms the heart of the CMS experiment. It is producing data again following an upgrade during the LHC shutdown. 21.11.2022 Single-domain stripe order in a high-temperature superconductor The coupling of spin, charge and lattice degrees of freedom results in the emergence of novel states of matter across many classes of strongly correlated electron materials. A model example is unconventional superconductivity, which is widely believed to arise from the coupling of electrons via spin excitations. In cuprate high-temperature superconductors, the interplay of charge and spin degrees of freedom is also reflected in a zoo of charge and spin- density wave orders that are intertwined with superconductivity ... 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01.08.2023 Emergent Magnetism with Continuous Control in the Ultrahigh-Conductivity Layered Oxide PdCoO2 The current challenge to realizing continuously tunable magnetism lies in our inability to systematically change properties, such as valence, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom, as well as crystallographic geometry. Here, we demonstrate that ferromagnetism can be externally turned on with the application of low-energy helium implantation and can be subsequently erased and returned to the pristine state via annealing.
10.07.2023 •Fundamentals of Nature •7 min Mystery of microgels solved Further information aboutSINQ Researchers at PSI and the University of Barcelona can explain the strange shrinking of microgels experimentally.
27.06.2023 Coupling of magnetic phases at nickelate interfaces In this paper we present a model system built out of artificially layered materials, allowing us to understand the interrelation of magnetic phases with the metallic-insulating phase at long length scales, and enabling new strategies for the design and control of materials in devices. The artificial model system consists of superlattices made of SmNiO3 and NdNiO3 layers, – two members of the fascinating rare earth nickelate family, having different metal-to-insulator and magnetic transition temperatures. By combining two complementary techniques ....
26.06.2023 Resonant Elastic X-Ray Scattering of Antiferromagnetic Superstructures in EuPtSi3 We report resonant elastic x-ray scattering of long-range magnetic order in EuPtSi3, combining different scattering geometries with full linear polarization analysis to unambiguously identify magnetic scattering contributions. At low temperatures, EuPtSi3 stabilizes type A antiferromagnetism featuring various long- wavelength modulations. For magnetic fields applied in the hard magnetic basal plane, well-defined regimes of cycloidal, conical, and fanlike superstructures may be distinguished that encompass a pocket of commensurate type A order without superstructure.
23.06.2023 Defect Profiling of Oxide-Semiconductor Interfaces Using Low-Energy Muons Muon spin rotation with low-energy muons (LE-μSR) is a powerful nuclear method where electrical and magnetic properties of surface-near regions and thin films can be studied on a length scale of ≈200 nm. This study shows the potential of utilizing low-energy muons for a depth-resolved characterization of oxide-semiconductor interfaces, i.e., for silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (4H-SiC). The performance of semiconductor devices relies heavily on the quality of the oxide-semiconductor interface; thus, investigation of defects present in this region is crucial to improve the technology.
19.06.2023 Shea Distinguished Member Award of IEEE NPSS to Stefan Ritt The Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society of IEEE acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Dr. Stefan Ritt in terms of technological developments and services to the NPSS community with the 2023 Richard F. Shea Distinguished Member Award.
09.06.2023 Tuning magnetoelectricity in a mixed-anisotropy antiferromagnet Control of magnetization and electric polarization is attractive in relation to tailoring materials for data storage and devices such as sensors or antennae. In magnetoelectric materials, these degrees of freedom are closely coupled, allowing polarization to be controlled by a magnetic field, and magnetization by an electric field, but the magnitude of the effect remains a challenge in the case of single-phase magnetoelectrics for applications.
16.05.2023 Marino Missiroli elected Trigger Coordinator of the CMS experiment at CERN Marino Missiroli, a postdoctoral researcher in the High-Energy Particle Physics group of the Laboratory for Particle Physics (LTP) in NUM, will join the management team of the CMS experiment at CERN as Trigger Co-Coordinator in September 2023.
10.05.2023 •8 min Laura Heyderman elected Royal Society Fellow Laura’s nomination recognises almost 30 years of research into magnetic materials and magnetism on the nanoscale.
10.05.2023 A deep look into hydration of cement Researchers led by the University of Málaga show the Portland cement early age hydration with microscopic detail and high contrast between the components. This knowledge may contribute to more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.
26.04.2023 Nodeless electron pairing in CsV3Sb5-derived kagome superconductors The newly discovered kagome superconductors represent a promising platform for investigating the interplay between band topology, electronic order and lattice geometry. Despite extensive research efforts on this system, the nature of the superconducting ground state remains elusive. In particular, consensus on the electron pairing symmetry has not been achieved so far, in part owing to the lack of a momentum-resolved measurement of the superconducting gap structure. Here we report ...
24.04.2023 Quantum disordered ground state in the triangular-lattice magnet NaRuO2 It has long been hoped that spin liquid states might be observed in materials that realize the triangular-lattice Hubbard model. However, weak spin–orbit coupling and other small perturbations often induce conventional spin freezing or magnetic ordering. Sufficiently strong spin–orbit coupling, however, can renormalize the electronic wavefunction and induce anisotropic exchange interactions that promote magnetic frustration.
19.04.2023 Active learning-assisted neutron spectroscopy with log-Gaussian processes Neutron scattering experiments at three-axes spectrometers (TAS) investigate magnetic and lattice excitations by measuring intensity distributions to understand the origins of materials properties. The high demand and limited availability of beam time for TAS experiments however raise the natural question whether we can improve their efficiency and make better use of the experimenter’s time.
05.04.2023 •Future Technologies •13 min Jupiter mission to explore conditions conducive to life Further information aboutParticle physics Ganymede, Callisto and Europa: Jupiter’s icy moons are the destination of the upcoming ESA mission. On board: a high-tech detector developed by PSI.
03.04.2023 Amyloid-polysaccharide interfacial coacervates as therapeutic materials Coacervation via liquid-liquid phase separation provides an excellent oppor- tunity to address the challenges of designing nanostructured biomaterials with multiple functionalities. Protein-polysaccharide coacervates, in particular, offer an appealing strategy to target biomaterial scaffolds, but these systems suffer from the low mechanical and chemical stabilities of protein-based condensates. Here we overcome these limitations by transforming native proteins into amyloid fibrils and demonstrate ...
16.03.2023 •7 min Muonic X-rays peer into brooch from Roman city Using Muon Induced X-ray Emission, researchers could reveal the inner composition of a knob-bow fibula, excavated at Augusta Raurica in northern Switzerland.
14.03.2023 A practical guide to pulsed laser deposition Nanoscale thin films are widely implemented across a plethora of technological and scientific areas, and form the basis for many advancements that have driven human progress, owing to the high degree of functional tunability based on the chemical composition. Pulsed laser deposition is one of the multiple physical vapour deposition routes to fabricate thin films, employing laser energy to eject material from a target in the form of a plasma ...
14.02.2023 •6 min How to squash things carefully A new in situ uniaxial pressure cell at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI gives scientists unrivalled control to tweak quantum materials microscopically and tune their properties.
08.02.2023 Visualizing Higher-Fold Topology in Chiral Crystals Novel topological phases of matter are fruitful platforms for the discovery of unconventional electromagnetic phenomena. Higher-fold topology is one example, where the low-energy description goes beyond standard model analogs. Despite intensive experimental studies, conclusive evidence remains elusive for the multigap topological nature of higher-fold chiral fermions. In this Letter, we leverage a combination of fine-tuned chemical engineering and photoemission spectroscopy with photon energy contrast to discover the higher-fold topology of a chiral crystal.
07.02.2023 Commissioning of the novel Continuous Angle Multi-energy Analysis spectrometer at the Paul Scherrer Institut We report on the commissioning results of the cold neutron multiplexing secondary spectrometer CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multi-Energy Analysis) at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. CAMEA is optimized for ...
02.02.2023 •Large research facilities •17 min More light in the darkness Further information aboutParticle physics Further information aboutIMPACT Further information aboutCHRISP At PSI, researchers want to fill the missing gaps in the Standard Model of particle physics with the help of the large research facilities.
31.01.2023 •6 min Unconventional superconductivity found in kagome metal Physicists using muon spin spectroscopy at PSI make the missing link between their recent breakthrough in Nature and unconventional superconductivity
19.01.2023 Fate of charge order in overdoped La-based cuprates In high-temperature cuprate superconductors, stripe order refers broadly to a coupled spin and charge modulation with a commensuration of eight and four lattice units, respectively. How this stripe order evolves across optimal doping remains a controversial question. Here we present a systematic resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of weak charge correlations in La2−xSrxCuO4 and La1.8−xEu0.2SrxCuO4. Ultra high energy resolution experiments demonstrate the importance of the separation of inelastic and elastic scattering processes.
30.12.2022 •Future Technologies •7 min Further optimising car brakes Further information aboutSINQ Research scientists at PSI and ANAXAM use neutrons to look inside brake callipers and identify potential ways of reducing CO2 emissions.
19.12.2022 •Large research facilities •4 min A two-part upgrade for the proton accelerator Further information aboutMaterials research Further information aboutMedical Science Further information aboutParticle physics Further information aboutRadiopharmacy Further information aboutIMPACT Further information aboutCHRISP A two-part upgrade is planned for HIPA starting in 2025. Preparations are already under way.
01.12.2022 Appointment of Thomas Lippert as new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX) Starting 1. December 2022, Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Lippert will be the new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX). He follows Prof. Dr. Laura Heyderman, our first laboratory head who successfully formed and established the LMX in the PSI landscape as a Centre of Materials.
28.11.2022 •9 min Making sense of the muon’s misdemeanours An exotic atom called muonium could explain why muons won’t stick to the rules, believe researchers using the Swiss Muon Source at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI.
25.11.2022 The Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instruments visits FRM II neutron research facility Recently, the staff of the PSI’s Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation (LIN) visited our colleagues at MLZ to learn more about the FRM II reactor and its instrumentation, as well as to discuss current and future joint projects. LIN staff was greeted with Bavarian hospitality in the form of “Weisswurst Frühstück” and then enjoyed a full tour of the facility and many fruitful discussions.
21.11.2022 •8 min Upgraded pixel detector back in action at CERN Built at Paul Scherrer Institute, the detector forms the heart of the CMS experiment. It is producing data again following an upgrade during the LHC shutdown.
21.11.2022 Single-domain stripe order in a high-temperature superconductor The coupling of spin, charge and lattice degrees of freedom results in the emergence of novel states of matter across many classes of strongly correlated electron materials. A model example is unconventional superconductivity, which is widely believed to arise from the coupling of electrons via spin excitations. In cuprate high-temperature superconductors, the interplay of charge and spin degrees of freedom is also reflected in a zoo of charge and spin- density wave orders that are intertwined with superconductivity ...