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Transition metal oxides with a wide variety of electronic and magnetic properties offer an extraordinary possibility to be a platform for developing future electronics based on unconventional quantum phenomena, for instance, the topology. The formation of topologically non-trivial states is related to crystalline symmetry, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic ordering. Here, we demonstrate how lattice distortions and octahedral rotation in SrNbO$_3$ films induce the band topology. By employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we verify the presence of in-phase $a^0a^0c^+$ octahedral rotation in ultra-thin SrNbO$_3$ films, which causes the formation of topologically-protected Dirac band crossings. Our study illustrates that octahedral engineering can be effectively exploited for implanting and controlling quantum topological phases in transition metal oxides., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

The relationship between magnetization and light has been the subject of intensive research for the past century, focusing on the impact of magnetic moments on light polarization. Conversely, the manipulation of magnetism through polarized light is being investigated to achieve all-optical control of magnetism in spintronics. While remarkable discoveries such as single pulse all-optical switching of the magnetization in thin films and sub-micrometer structures have been reported, the demonstration of local optical control of magnetism at the nanoscale has remained elusive. Here, we show that exciting gold nanodiscs with circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses leads to the generation of sizeable local magnetic fields that enable ultrafast local control of the magnetization of an adjacent magnetic film. In addition, we find that the highest magnetic fields are generated when exciting the sample at a wavelength larger than that of the actual plasmonic resonance of the gold nanodiscs, so avoiding undesired heating effects due to absorption. Our study paves the way for light-driven control in nanoscale spintronic devices and provides important insights into the generation of magnetic fields in plasmonic nanostructures.

NaOsO$_3$ has recently attracted significant attention for the strong coupling between its electronic band structure and magnetic ordering. Here, we used time-resolved magnetic X-ray diffraction to determine the timescale of the photoinduced \afm dynamics in NaOsO$_3$. Our measurements are consistent with a sub-100~fs melting of the \afm long-range order, that occurs significantly faster than the lattice dynamics as monitored by the transient change in intensity of selected Bragg structural reflections, which instead show a decrease of intensity on a timescale of several ps., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures

Artificial spin ices are periodic arrangements of interacting nanomagnets successfully used to investigate emergent phenomena in the presence of geometric frustration. Recently, it has been shown that artificial spin ices can be used as building blocks for creating functional materials, such as magnonic crystals, and support a large number of programmable magnetic states. We investigate the magnetization dynamics in a system exhibiting anisotropic magnetostatic interactions owing to locally broken structural inversion symmetry. We find a rich spin-wave spectrum and investigate its evolution in an external magnetic field. We determine the evolution of individual modes, from building blocks up to larger arrays, highlighting the role of symmetry breaking in defining the mode profiles. Moreover, we demonstrate that the mode spectra exhibit signatures of long-range interactions in the system. These results contribute to the understanding of magnetization dynamics in spin ices beyond the kagome and square ice geometries and are relevant for the realization of reconfigurable magnonic crystals based on spin ices.

Vortex rings are remarkably stable structures occurring in numerous systems: for example in turbulent gases, where they are at the origin of weather phenomena [1]; in fluids with implications for biology [2]; in electromagnetic discharges [3]; and in plasmas [4]. While vortex rings have also been predicted to exist in ferromagnets [5], they have not yet been observed. Using X-ray magnetic nanotomography [6], we imaged three-dimensional structures forming closed loops in a bulk micromagnet, each composed of a vortex-antivortex pair. Based on the magnetic vorticity, a quantity analogous to hydrodynamic vorticity, we identify these configurations as magnetic vortex rings. While such structures have been predicted to exist as transient states in exchange ferromagnets [5], the vortex rings we observe exist as stable, static configurations, whose stability we attribute to the dipolar interaction. In addition, we observe stable vortex loops intersected by magnetic singularities [7], at which the magnetisation within the vortex and antivortex cores reverses. We gain insight into the stability of these states through field and thermal equilibration protocols. These measurements pave the way for the observation of complex three-dimensional solitons in bulk magnets, as well as for the development of applications based on three-dimensional magnetic structures.

The simultaneous condensation of electronic and structural degrees of freedom gives rise to new states of matter, including superconductivity and charge-density-wave formation. When exciting such a condensed system, it is commonly assumed that the ultrafast laser pulse disturbs primarily the electronic order, which in turn destabilizes the atomic structure. Contrary to this conception, we show here that structural destabilization of few atoms causes melting of the macroscopic ordered charge-density wave in 1T-TiSe2. Using ultrafast pump-probe non-resonant and resonant X-ray diffraction, we observe full suppression of the Se 4p orbital order and the atomic structure at excitation energies more than one order of magnitude below the suggested excitonic binding energy. Complete melting of the charge-density wave occurs 4-5 times faster than expected from a purely electronic charge-screening process, strongly suggesting a structurally assisted breakup of excitonic correlations. Our experimental data clarifies several questions on the intricate coupling between structural and electronic order in stabilizing the charge-density-wave in 1T-TiSe2. The results further show that electron-phonon-coupling can lead to different, energy dependent phase-transition pathways in condensed matter systems, opening new possibilities in the conception of non-equilibrium phenomena at the ultrafast scale., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures

The ability to experimentally map the three-dimensional structure and dynamics in bulk and patterned three-dimensional ferromagnets is essential both for understanding fundamental micromagnetic processes, as well as for investigating technologically-relevant micromagnets whose functions are connected to the presence and dynamics of fundamental micromagnetic structures, such as domain walls and vortices. Here, we demonstrate time-resolved magnetic laminography, a technique which offers access to the temporal evolution of a complex three-dimensional magnetic structure with nanoscale resolution. We image the dynamics of the complex three-dimensional magnetization state in a two-phase bulk magnet with a lateral spatial resolution of 50 nm, mapping the transition between domain wall precession and the dynamics of a uniform magnetic domain that is attributed to variations in the magnetization state across the phase boundary. The capability to probe three-dimensional magnetic structures with temporal resolution paves the way for the experimental investigation of novel functionalities arising from dynamic phenomena in bulk and three-dimensional patterned nanomagnets., Comment: Nat. Nanotechnol. (2020)

Recent progress in nanofabrication and additive manufacturing have facilitated the building of nanometer-scale three-dimensional structures, that promise to lead to an emergence of new functionalities within a number of fields, compared to state-of-the-art two dimensional systems. In magnetism, the move to three-dimensional systems offers the possibility for novel magnetic properties not available in planar systems, as well as enhanced performance, both of which are key for the development of new technological applications. In this review paper we will focus our attention on three-dimensional magnetic systems and how their magnetic configuration can be retrieved using X-ray magnetic nanotomography.

The control of materials properties with light is a promising approach towards the realization of faster and smaller electronic devices. With phases that can be controlled via strain, pressure, chemical composition or dimensionality, nickelates are good candidates for the development of a new generation of high performance and low consumption devices. Here we analyze the photoinduced dynamics in a single crystalline NdNiO$_3$ film upon excitation across the electronic gap. Using time-resolved reflectivity and resonant x-ray diffraction, we show that the pump pulse induces an insulator-to-metal transition, accompanied by the melting of the charge order. Finally we compare our results to similar studies in manganites and show that the same model can be used to describe the dynamics in nickelates, hinting towards a unified description of these photoinduced phase transitions., Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures

The study of magnetic correlations in dipolar-coupled nanomagnet systems with synchrotron x-ray scattering provides a means to uncover emergent phenomena and exotic phases, in particular in systems with thermally active magnetic moments. From the diffuse signal of soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, we have measured magnetic correlations in a highly dynamic artificial kagome spin ice with sub-70-nm Permalloy nanomagnets. On comparing experimental scattering patterns with Monte Carlo simulations based on a needle-dipole model, we conclude that kagome ice I phase correlations exist in our experimental system even in the presence of moment fluctuations, which is analogous to bulk spin ice and spin liquid behavior. In addition, we describe the emergence of quasi-pinch-points in the magnetic diffuse scattering in the kagome ice I phase. These quasi-pinch-points bear similarities to the fully developed pinch points with singularities of a magnetic Coulomb phase, and continually evolve into the latter on lowering the temperature. The possibility to measure magnetic diffuse scattering with soft x rays opens the way to study magnetic correlations in a variety of nanomagnetic systems., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; http://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.93.224413

Imaging the magnetic structure of a material is essential to understanding the influence of the physical and chemical microstructure on its magnetic properties. Magnetic imaging techniques, however, have up to now been unable to probe 3D micrometer-sized systems with nanoscale resolution. Here we present the imaging of the magnetic domain configuration of a micrometre-thick FeGd multilayer with hard X-ray dichroic ptychography at energies spanning both the Gd L3 edge and the Fe K edge, providing a high spatial resolution spectroscopic analysis of the complex X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. With a spatial resolution reaching 45 nm, this advance in hard X-ray magnetic imaging is the first step towards the investigation of buried magnetic structures and extended three-dimensional magnetic systems at the nanoscale.

The chiral Fe-based langasites represent model systems of triangle-based frustrated magnets with a strong potential for multiferroicity. We report neutron scattering measurements for the multichiral Ba3MFe3Si2O14 (M = Nb, Ta) langasites revealing new important features of the magnetic order of these systems: the bunching of the helical modulation along the c-axis and the in-plane distortion of the 120{\textdegree} Fe-spin arrangement. We discuss these subtle features in terms of the microscopic spin Hamiltonian, and provide the link to the magnetically-induced electric polarization observed in these systems. Thus, our findings put the multiferroicity of this attractive family of materials on solid ground.