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Analytic and numerical studies on curved magnetic nano-objects predict numerous exciting effects that can be referred to as magneto-chiral effects, which do not originate from intrinsic Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction or interface-induced anisotropies. In constrast, these chiral effects stem from isotropic exchange or dipole-dipole interaction, present in all magnetic materials, which acquire asymmetric contributions in case of curved geometry of the specimen. As a result, for example, the spin-wave dispersion in round magnetic nanotubes becomes asymmetric, namely spin waves of the same frequency propagating in opposite directions along the nanotube exhibit different wavelenghts. Here, using time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy experiments, standard micromagntic simulations and a dynamic-matrix approach, we show that the spin-wave spectrum undergoes additional drastic changes when transitioning from a continuous to a discrete rotational symmetry, i.e. from round to hexagonal nanotubes, which are much easier to fabricate. The polygonal shape introduces localization of the modes both to the sharp, highly curved corners and flat edges. Moreover, due to the discrete rotational symmetry, the degenerate nature of the modes with azimuthal wave vectors known from round tubes is partly lifted, resulting in singlet and duplet modes. For comparison with our experiments, we calculate the microwave absorption from the numerically obtained mode profiles which shows that a dedicated antenna design is paramount for magnonic applications in 3D nano-structures. To our knowledge these are the first experiments directly showing real space spin-wave propagation in 3D nano objects.

We employ xenon (Xe) plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) milling to obtain soft X-ray transparent windows out of bulk samples. The use of a Xe PFIB allows for the milling of thin windows (several 100 nm thick) with areas of the order of 100 µm × 100 µm into bulk substrates. In addition, we present an approach to empirically determine the transmission level of such windows during fabrication by correlating their electron and soft X-ray transparencies. We perform scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) imaging on a sample obtained by Xe PFIB milling to demonstrate the conceptual feasibility of the technique. Our thinning approach provides a fast and simplified method for facilitating soft X-ray transmission measurements of epitaxial samples and it can be applied to a variety of different sample systems and substrates that are otherwise not accessible, Crystals, 11 (5), ISSN:2073-4352

We studied the influence of a static in-plane magnetic field on the alternating-field-driven emission of nanoscale spin waves from magnetic vortex cores. Time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy was used to image spin waves in disk structures of synthetic ferrimagnets and single ferromagnetic layers. For both systems, it was found that an increasing magnetic bias field continuously displaces the wave-emitting vortex core from the center of the disk toward its edge without noticeably altering the spin-wave dispersion relation. In the case of the single-layer disk, an anisotropic lateral expansion of the core occurs at higher magnetic fields, which leads to a directional rather than radial-isotropic emission and propagation of waves. Micromagnetic simulations confirm these findings and further show that focusing effects occur in such systems, depending on the shape of the core and controlled by the static magnetic bias field., Nano Letters, 21 (4), ISSN:1530-6984, ISSN:1530-6992

Antidot lattices have proven to be a powerful tool for spin wave band structure manipulation. Utilizing time-resolved scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, we are able to experimentally image edge-localized spin wave modes in an antidot lattice with a lateral confinement down to [Formula: see text]. At higher frequencies, spin wave dragonfly patterns formed by the demagnetizing structures of the antidot lattice are excited. Evaluating their relative phase with respect to the propagating mode within the antidot channel reveals that the dragonfly modes are not directly excited by the antenna but need the propagating mode as an energy mediator. Furthermore, micromagnetic simulations reveal that additional dispersion branches exist for a tilted external field geometry. These branches correspond to asymmetric spin wave modes that cannot be excited in a non-tilted field geometry due to the symmetry restriction. In addition to the band having a negative slope, these asymmetric modes also cause an unexpected transformation of the band structure, slightly reaching into the otherwise empty bandgap between the low frequency edge modes and the fundamental mode. The presented phase resolved investigation of spin waves is a crucial step for spin wave manipulation in magnonic crystals.

Although it is well documented that the vortex core in a micromagnet can switch polarization in response to magnetic field pulses, the temperature dependence of this process has not yet been addressed by experiments. Using scanning transmission x-raymicroscopy, we investigate the magnetic vortex dynamics in a La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 microplatelet at temperatures ranging from 150K up to T-C at 350K. The time-resolved images reveal qualitatively different dynamic regimes as a function of temperature and applied field, as the relative strengths of the micromagnetic energy terms strongly vary over this temperature range. By explicitly accounting for the temperature dependence of the magnetic parameters in our micromagnetic simulations, we found excellent agreement with the experiments over the full measurement range. In line with previous models, the simulations reveal that the vortex core switches polarization when it reaches a critical velocity that mainly depends on the strength of the exchange interaction. It is therefore strongly temperature dependent, thus explaining our observation of the different dynamical regimes.

Spin waves are excitations in ferromagnetic media that have been proposed as information carriers in hybrid spintronic devices with much lower operation power than conventional charge-based electronics. Their wave nature can be exploited in majority gates by using interference for computation. However, a scalable spin-wave majority gate that can be co-integrated alongside conventional electronics is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate a sub-micron inline spin-wave majority gate with fan-out. Time-resolved imaging of the magnetization dynamics by scanning transmission x-ray microscopy illustrates the device operation. All-electrical spin-wave spectroscopy further demonstrates majority gates with sub-micron dimensions, reconfigurable input and output ports, and frequency-division multiplexing. Challenges for hybrid spintronic computing systems based on spin-wave majority gates are discussed., This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 801055 "Spin Wave Computing for Ultimately-Scaled Hybrid Low-Power Electronics" - CHIRON

We introduce a single-frame diffractive imaging method called randomized probe imaging (RPI). In RPI, a sample is illuminated by a structured probe field containing speckles smaller than the sample’s typical feature size. Quantitative amplitude and phase images are then reconstructed from the resulting far-field diffraction pattern. The experimental geometry of RPI is straightforward to implement, requires no near-field optics, and is applicable to extended samples. When the resulting data are analyzed with a complimentary algorithm, reliable reconstructions which are robust to missing data are achieved. To realize these benefits, a resolution limit associated with the numerical aperture of the probe-forming optics is imposed. RPI therefore offers an attractive modality for quantitative X-ray phase imaging when temporal resolution and reliability are critical but spatial resolution in the tens of nanometers is sufficient. We discuss the method, introduce a reconstruction algorithm, and present two proof-of-concept experiments: one using visible light, and one using soft X-rays.

International audience; Laser-driven non-local electron dynamics in ultrathin magnetic samples on a sub-10 nm length scale is a key process in ultrafast magnetism. However, the experimental access has been challenging due to the nanoscopic and femtosecond nature of such transport processes. Here, we present a scattering-based experiment relying on a laser-induced electro-and magneto-optical grating in a Co/Pd ferromagnetic multilayer as a new technique to investigate non-local magnetization dynamics on nanometer length and femtosecond timescales. We induce a spatially modulated excitation pattern using tailored Al near-field masks with varying periodicities on a nanometer length scale and measure the first four diffraction orders in an x-ray scattering experiment with magnetic circular dichroism contrast at the free-electron laser facility FERMI, Trieste. The design of the periodic excitation mask leads to a strongly enhanced and characteristic transient scattering response allowing for sub-wavelength in-plane sensitivity for magnetic structures. In conjunction with scattering simulations, the experiment allows us to infer that a potential ultrafast lateral expansion of the initially excited regions of the magnetic film mediated by hot-electron transport and spin transport remains confined to below three nanometers.

Skyrmions, magnetic textures with topological stability, hold promises for high-density and energy-efficient information storage devices owing to their small size and low driving-current density. Precise creation of a single nanoscale skyrmion is a prerequisite to further understand the skyrmion physics and tailor skyrmion-based applications. Here, we demonstrate the creation of individual skyrmions at zero-field in an exchange-biased magnetic multilayer with exposure to soft X-rays. In particular, a single skyrmion with 100-nm size can be created at the desired position using a focused X-ray spot of sub-50-nm size. This single skyrmion creation is driven by the X-ray-induced modification of the antiferromagnetic order and the corresponding exchange bias. Furthermore, artificial skyrmion lattices with various arrangements can be patterned using X-ray. These results demonstrate the potential of accurate optical control of single skyrmion at sub-100 nm scale. We envision that X-ray could serve as a versatile tool for local manipulation of magnetic orders., Skyrmions are objects with whirled magnetization protected by their topology that can be created by different means, however, without control of their position. Here, the authors present a method exploiting x-rays to create skyrmions at the beam position allowing for creation of artificial skyrmion lattices.

Black manganese-rich crusts are found worldwide on the facades of historical buildings. In this study, they were studied exemplarily on the facade of the Freiburger Munster (Freiburg Minster), Germany, and measured in-situ by portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The XRF was calibrated to allow the conversion from apparent mass fractions to Mn surface density (Mn mass per area), to compensate for the fact that portable XRF mass fraction measurements from thin layers violate the assumption of a homogeneous measurement volume. Additionally, 200-nm femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (fs LA-ICP-MS) measurements, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy-near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS), Raman spectroscopy, and imaging by light microscopy were conducted to obtain further insight into the crust material, such as potential biogenic contributions, element distributions, trace element compositions, and organic functional groups. While black crusts of various types are present at many places on the minster's facade, crusts rich in Mn (with a Mn surface density >150 μg cm−2) are restricted to a maximum height of about 7 m. The only exceptions are those developed on the Renaissance-Vorhalle (Renaissance Portico) at a height of about 8 m. This part of the facade had been cleaned and treated with a silicon resin as recently as 2003. These crusts thus accumulated over a period of only 12 years. Yet, they are exceptionally Mn-rich with a surface density of 1200 μg cm−2, and therefore require an accumulation rate of about 100 μg cm−2 Mn per year. Trace element analyses support the theory that vehicle emissions are responsible for most of the Mn supply. Lead, barium, and zinc correlate with manganese, indicating that tire material, brake pads, and resuspended road dust are likely to be the element sources. Microscopic investigations show no organisms on or in the Mn-rich crusts. In contrast, Mn-free black crusts sampled at greater heights (>8 m) exhibited fungal and cyanobacterial encrustation. Carbon-rich spots were found by STXM-NEXAFS underneath one of the Mn-rich crusts. However, these carbon occurrences originate from soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) deposited on top of the crust, rather than from organisms responsible for the crust's formation, as shown by STXM-NEXAFS and Raman spectroscopic measurements. Our results suggest that the crusts develop abiogenically, with vehicle emissions as dominant element sources.

The penetration of dexamethasone into human skin ex vivo is reported. X-ray microscopy is used for label-free probing of the drug and quantification of the local drug concentration with a spatial resolution reaching 70±5nm. This is accomplished by selective probing the dexamethasone by X-ray absorption. Varying the penetration time between 10min and 1000min provides detailed information on the penetration process. In addition, the stratum corneum has been damaged by tape-stripping in order to determine the importance of this barrier regarding temporally resolved drug penetration profiles. Dexamethasone concentrations distinctly vary, especially close to the border of the stratum corneum and the viable epidermis, where a local minimum in drug concentration is observed. Furthermore, near the basal membrane the drug concentration strongly drops. High spatial resolution studies along with a de-convolution procedure reveal the spatial distribution of dexamethasone in the interspaces between the corneocytes consisting of stratum corneum lipids. These results on local drug concentrations are interpreted in terms of barriers affecting the drug penetration in human skin.

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically stabilized nanoscale spin structures that could be of use in the development of future spintronic devices. When a skyrmion is driven by an electric current it propagates at an angle relative to the flow of current-known as the skyrmion Hall angle (SkHA)-that is a function of the drive current. This drive dependence, as well as thermal effects due to Joule heating, could be used to tailor skyrmion trajectories, but are not well understood. Here we report a study of skyrmion dynamics as a function of temperature and drive amplitude. We find that the skyrmion velocity depends strongly on temperature, while the SkHA does not and instead evolves differently in the low- and high-drive regimes. In particular, the maximum skyrmion velocity in ferromagnetic devices is limited by a mechanism based on skyrmion surface tension and deformation (where the skyrmion transitions into a stripe). Our mechanism provides a complete description of the SkHA in ferromagnetic multilayers across the full range of drive strengths, illustrating that skyrmion trajectories can be engineered for device applications. An analysis of skyrmion dynamics at different temperatures and electric drive currents is used to develop a complete description of the skyrmion Hall angle in ferromagnetic multilayers from the creep to the flow regime and illustrates that skyrmion trajectories can be engineered for device applications.

Spin waves are discussed as promising information carrier for beyond complementary metal-oxide semiconductor data processing. One major challenge is guiding and steering of spin waves in a uniform film. Here, we explore the use of diffractive optics for these tasks by nanoscale real-space imaging using x-ray microscopy and careful analysis with micromagnetic simulations. We discuss the properties of the focused caustic beams that are generated by a Fresnel-type zone plate and demonstrate control and steering of the focal spot. Thus, we present a steerable and intense nanometer-sized spin-wave source. Potentially, this could be used to selectively illuminate magnonic devices like nano-oscillators.

Nanometer-thin rare-earth iron garnet films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are among the most promising materials for fast and low-energy spintronics applications. Here, the authors demonstrate ultrafast control of intrinsically stabilized submicrometer bubble domains in these materials. By employing powerful x-ray imaging techniques both in transmission and with surface sensitivity, and by combining this with nanosecond electrical pulses and femtosecond laser excitation, they deterministically create, and image, these bubble states $i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n$ $s\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}t\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}u$. The topology, the chirality, and the switching phase diagram of these twisted spin structures are all resolved by direct imaging.

Magnonics research, i.e. the manipulation of spin waves for information processing, is a topic of intense research interest in the past years. FMR, BLS and MOKE measurements lead to tremendous success and advancement of the field. However, these methods are limited in their spatial resolution. X-ray microscopy opens up a way to push to spatial resolutions below 100 nm. Here, we discuss the methodology of STXM for pump-probe data acquisition with single photon counting and arbitrary excitation patterns. Furthermore, we showcase these capabilities using two magnonic crystals as examples: an antidot lattice and a Fibonacci quasicrystal.

Since the discovery of ferromagnetic two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) crystals, significant interest on such 2D magnets has emerged, inspired by their appealing properties and integration with other 2D family for unique heterostructures. In known 2D magnets, spin-orbit coupling (SOC) stabilizes perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). Such a strong SOC could also lift the chiral degeneracy, leading to the formation of topological magnetic textures such as skyrmions through the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Here, we report the experimental observation of N\'eel-type chiral magnetic skyrmions and their lattice (SkX) formation in a vdW ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 (FGT). We demonstrate the ability to drive individual skyrmion by short current pulses along a vdW heterostructure, FGT/h-BN, as highly required for any skyrmion-based spintronic device. Using first principle calculations supported by experiments, we unveil the origin of DMI being the interfaces with oxides, which then allows us to engineer vdW heterostructures for desired chiral states. Our finding opens the door to topological spin textures in the 2D vdW magnet and their potential device application., Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures

Magnonic crystals (magnetic metamaterials for manipulating spin waves) are important building blocks for rf filters and logic. However, regular crystals pose significant constraints for complex designs. This study combines time-resolved x-ray microscopy and numerical modeling to show that quasiperiodic Fibonacci crystals provide advanced control of the magnonic band structure. Furthermore, x-ray microscopy yields insight into the quasicrystal's inner workings, and a simple analytical model is derived to facilitate application of these systems.

Magnonic quasicrystals can be used to manipulate spin waves, offering possibilities beyond those of periodic magnonic crystals. The authors investigate one-dimensional magnonic Fibonacci quasicrystals and demonstrate the existence of collective spin waves over a broad range of wave vectors. The spin-wave spectra here are tunable by changing magnetic field amplitude (for continuous band-structure adjustment), magnetization configuration (for reprogrammability), or the dimensions of the elements (for scalability). Beyond being fundamentally interesting, these properties show that magnonic quasicrystals are promising for tomorrow's spintronic, microwave, and magnonic technologies.

Time-resolved scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (TR-STXM) has been used for the direct imaging of spin wave dynamics in thin film yttrium iron garnet (YIG) with spatial resolution in the sub 100 nm range. Application of this x-ray transmission technique to single crystalline garnet films was achieved by extracting a lamella (13x5x0.185 $\mathrm{\mu m^3}$) of liquid phase epitaxy grown YIG thin film out of a gadolinium gallium garnet substrate. Spin waves in the sample were measured along the Damon-Eshbach and backward volume directions of propagation at gigahertz frequencies and with wavelengths in a range between 100~nm and 10~$\mathrm{\mu}$m. The results were compared to theoretical models. Here, the widely used approximate dispersion equation for dipole-exchange spin waves proved to be insufficient for describing the observed Damon-Eshbach type modes. For achieving an accurate description, we made use of the full analytical theory taking mode-hybridization effects into account.

The use of spin waves as information carriers in spintronic devices can substantially reduce energy losses by eliminating the ohmic heating associated with electron transport. Yet, the excitation of short-wavelength spin waves in nanoscale magnetic systems remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a method for their coherent generation in a heterostructure composed of antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic layers. The driven dynamics of naturally formed nanosized stacked pairs of magnetic vortex cores is used to achieve this aim. The resulting spin-wave propagation is directly imaged by time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. We show that the dipole-exchange spin waves excited in this system have a linear, non-reciprocal dispersion and that their wavelength can be tuned by changing the driving frequency.

The complex electronic structure of ordered 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PTCDA) multilayers on Ag(111) is investigated by angle-dependent resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy at the carbon K edge. Beam damage effects were characterized and special care was taken to avoid their influence on the spectra. Appropriate selection of excitation energies and detection geometries allow us to record element-, atom-, and symmetry-specific X-ray emission spectra by making use of dipole selection rules. This specificity, especially the ability to distinguish between σ and π orbitals, gives unprecedented experimental insights into the electronic structure of this large organic molecule. The experimental results are compared with calculated spectra of the isolated molecule, as derived from density functional theory. This allows a detailed discussion of the spectra and separation of the contributions from nonequivalent carbon atoms.

CA extern Antidot lattices are potential candidates to act as bit patterned media for data storage as they are able to trap nanoscale magnetic domains between two adjacent holes. Here, we demonstrate the combination of micromagnetic modeling and x-ray microscopy. Detailed simulation of these systems can only be achieved by micromagnetic modeling that takes thermal effects into account. For this purpose, a Landau-Lifshitz-Bloch approach is used here. The calculated melting of magnetic domains within the antidot lattice is reproduced experimentally by x-ray microscopy. Furthermore, we compare conventional scanning transmission x-ray microscopy with resolution enhanced ptychography. Hence, we achieve a resolution of 13 nm. The results demonstrate that ptychographic imaging can also recover magnetic contrast in the presence of a strong topological variation and is generally applicable toward magnetic samples requiring ultimate resolution. © 2020 Author(s).

We studied the impact of soft ferromagnetic permalloy (Py) on the shielding currents in a strong-pinning superconductor—YBa2Cu3O7−δ with Ba2Y(Nb/Ta)O6 nano-precipitates—by means of scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. Typically and in particular when in the thin film limit, superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/FM) bilayers exhibit isotropic properties of the flux line ensemble at all temperatures. However, in elements with small aspect ratio a significant anisotropy in flux penetration is observed. We explain this effect by local in-plane fields arising from anisotropic magnetic stray fields originated by the ferromagnet. This leads to direction-dependent motion of magnetic vortices inside the SC/FM bilayer. Our results demonstrate that small variations of the magnetic properties can have huge impact on the superconductor.

In the emerging field of magnonics, spin waves are foreseen as signal carriers for future spintronic information processing and communication devices, owing to both the very low power losses and a high device miniaturisation potential predicted for short-wavelength spin waves. Yet, the efficient excitation and controlled propagation of nanoscale spin waves remains a severe challenge. Here, we report the observation of high-amplitude, ultrashort dipole-exchange spin waves (down to 80 nm wavelength at 10 GHz frequency) in a ferromagnetic single layer system, coherently excited by the driven dynamics of a spin vortex core. We used time-resolved x-ray microscopy to directly image such propagating spin waves and their excitation over a wide range of frequencies. By further analysis, we found that these waves exhibit a heterosymmetric mode profile, involving regions with anti-Larmor precession sense and purely linear magnetic oscillation. In particular, this mode profile consists of dynamic vortices with laterally alternating helicity, leading to a partial magnetic flux closure over the film thickness, which is explained by a strong and unexpected mode hybridisation. This spin-wave phenomenon observed is a general effect inherent to the dynamics of sufficiently thick ferromagnetic single layer films, independent of the specific excitation method employed.

In the field of magnetism, spin waves are a subject of great interest for fundamental and application-oriented research. Time-resolved scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, a technique that allows for direct spin-wave imaging below the optical resolution limit, is usually limited to thin layers deposited on x-ray transparent membranes. Here, the authors report on a preparation routine that makes single-crystalline materials accessible to this powerful technique. The latter is subsequently implemented on the ferrimagnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet, where spin waves down to 100-nm wavelength are observed.

© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Magnetic skyrmions promise breakthroughs in future memory and computing devices due to their inherent stability and small size. Their creation and current driven motion have been recently observed at room temperature, but the key mechanisms of their formation are not yet well-understood. Here it is shown that in heavy metal/ferromagnet heterostructures, pulsed currents can drive morphological transitions between labyrinth-like, stripe-like, and skyrmionic states. Using high-resolution X-ray microscopy, the spin texture evolution with temperature and magnetic field is imaged and it is demonstrated that with transient Joule heating, topological charges can be injected into the system, driving it across the stripe-skyrmion boundary. The observations are explained through atomistic spin dynamic and micromagnetic simulations that reveal a crossover to a global skyrmionic ground state above a threshold magnetic field, which is found to decrease with increasing temperature. It is demonstrated how by tuning the phase stability, one can reliably generate skyrmions by short current pulses and stabilize them at zero field, providing new means to create and manipulate spin textures in engineered chiral ferromagnets.

Room temperature magnetic skyrmions in magnetic multilayers are considered as information carriers for future spintronic applications. Currently, a detailed understanding of the skyrmion stabilization mechanisms is still lacking in these systems. To gain more insight, it is first and foremost essential to determine the full real‐space spin configuration. Here, two advanced X‐ray techniques are applied, based on magnetic circular dichroism, to investigate the spin textures of skyrmions in [Ta/CoFeB/MgO] n multilayers. First, by using ptychography, a high‐resolution diffraction imaging technique, the 2D out‐of‐plane spin profile of skyrmions with a spatial resolution of 10 nm is determined. Second, by performing circular dichroism in resonant elastic X‐ray scattering, it is demonstrated that the chirality of the magnetic structure undergoes a depth‐dependent evolution. This suggests that the skyrmion structure is a complex 3D structure rather than an identical planar texture throughout the layer stack. The analyses of the spin textures confirm the theoretical predictions that the dipole–dipole interactions together with the external magnetic field play an important role in stabilizing sub‐100 nm diameter skyrmions and the hybrid structure of the skyrmion domain wall. This combined X‐ray‐based approach opens the door for in‐depth studies of magnetic skyrmion systems, which allows for precise engineering of optimized skyrmion heterostructures.

Spin waves with wavelengths in the nanometre range could serve as data carriers in future magnonic logic or signal processing devices. We investigate the interference of spin waves emitted from magnetic vortices in two exchange-coupled vortex stacks. The spin-wave dynamics are studied using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and micromagnetic simulations. Stacks of vortices provide an excellent controllability of spin-wave properties including a tunable wavelength in the 100 nm regime and manipulation of their propagation direction via the magnetisation configuration. Furthermore, interference gives rise to amplified or reduced spin-wave amplitudes in distinct areas of the structure providing controlled confinement crucial for future applications of spin waves. Spin waves are promising candidates as a building block for future magnonic devices. The authors present a combined numerical and experimental study of spin-wave interferences in stacks of magnetic vortices that are efficient spin-wave emitters in the nanometre regime.

Manganese (Mn)-rich natural rock coatings, so-called rock varnishes, are discussed controversially regarding their genesis. Biogenic and abiogenic mechanisms, as well as a combination of both, have been proposed to be responsible for the Mn oxidation and deposition process. We conducted scanning transmission X-ray microscopy - near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS) measurements to examine the abundance and spatial distribution of the different oxidation states of Mn within these nano- to micrometer thick crusts. Such microanalytical measurements of thin and hard rock crusts require sample preparation with minimal contamination risk. Focused ion beam (FIB) slicing, a well-established technique in geosciences, was used in this study to obtain 100–200 nm thin slices of the samples for X-ray transmission spectroscopy. However, even though this preparation is suitable to investigate element distributions and structures in rock samples, we observed that, using standard parameters, modifications of the Mn oxidation states occur in the surfaces of the FIB slices. Based on our results, the preparation technique likely causes the reduction of Mn4+ to Mn2+/3+. We draw attention to this issue, since FIB slicing, SEM imaging, and other preparation and visualization techniques operating in the keV range are well-established in geosciences, but researchers are often unaware of the potential for reduction of Mn and possibly other elements in the samples’ surface layers.

High-performance focusing of X-rays requires the realization of very challenging 3D geometries with nanoscale features, sub-millimeter-scale apertures, and high aspect ratios. A particularly difficult structure is the profile of an ideal zone plate called a kinoform, which is manufactured in nonideal approximated patterns, nonetheless requires complicated multistep fabrication processes. Here, 3D fabrication of high-performance kinoforms with unprecedented aspect ratios out of low-loss plastics using femtosecond two-photon 3D nanoprinting is presented. A thorough characterization of the 3D-printed kinoforms using direct soft X-ray imaging and ptychography demonstrates superior performance with an efficiency reaching up to 20%. An extended concept is proposed for on-chip integration of various X-ray optics toward high-fidelity control of X-ray wavefronts and ultimate efficiencies even for harder X-rays. Initial results establish new, advanced focusing optics for both synchrotron and laboratory sources for a large variety of X-ray techniques and applications ranging from materials science to medicine.

Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy has been used to image electric currents in superconducting films at temperatures down to 20 K. We detect significant deviations from a regular current path driven by macroscopic geometrical constraints. The magnetic stray field of supercurrents in a thin YBaCuO film is mapped into a soft-magnetic coating of permalloy. The so-created local magnetization of the ferromagnetic film can be detected by dichroic absorption of polarized x rays. To enable high-quality measurements in transmission geometry, the whole heterostructure of ferromagnet, superconductor, and single-crystalline substrate has been thinned to an overall thickness of less than 1 \textmu{}m. With this technique, local supercurrents can be analyzed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The less than 100 nm spatial resolution of the magnetic signal together with simultaneously obtained nanostructural data allow the correlation of local supercurrents with the micro- and nanostructure of the superconducting film.

In magnonics research, capabilities of data processing mediated by spin waves are of current interest for beyond-CMOS data processing technologies, promising non-Boolean computing algorithms or majority gates substituting several tens of CMOS transistors and making this an exciting candidate for next level computing [1–3]. Furthermore, due to the short wavelength of magnons at technological relevant radio frequencies, smaller structural elements and, thus, miniaturization of various devices will be possible [4]. However, for magnonic logic operations, reliable spin wave guides are indispensable. Here, we use scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM, MAXYMUS@BESSY II) with magnetic contrast and a spatial and temporal resolution of 18 nm and 35 ps respectively to investigate such wave-guides. These were structured in 50 nm thin Py stripes with a width of 350, 700 or 1400 nm and a length of 11 μm. A coplanar waveguide (Cr/Cu/Al) was deposited on top to allow RF excitation of spin waves in the structures (cf.Fig. 1 for a schematic sketch and a microscopy image). After time-domain STXM acquisition of the magnetization movie under RF excitation, a temporal Fourier transformation is performed to gain the spatial distribution of the spin wave amplitude and phase. This is shown exemplary in Fig. 2(a) for a 1400 nm wide Py stripe under CW excitation at 4.6 GHz and in an external field of 15 mT applied parallel to the long axis of the wave-guide (BV configuration). One can clearly observe that highly directed spin waves emerge from the edges of the wave-guide [5]. Due to the emission from both edges, a standing wave forms along the Py stripe. To quantify the spinwave properties a spatial Fourier transformation was performed to derive the k-space distribution of the wave vectors, which is shown in Fig. 2(b). Here, two components stand out beside the DC peak in the center showing that these microstructures act as multimode wave-guide. The first spin-wave modes has a wave vector k 1 = 4.7 μm-1, which corresponds to a wavelength of $\lambda _{1} \quad =210$ nm, and a second mode with a k-vector $\mathrm {k}_{2} \quad = 10.5 \mu \mathrm {m}^{-1}$ is visible. Thus, we are able to microscopically observe a spin-wave with a wavelength of $\lambda _{2} =95$ nm and experimentally break through the 100 nm limit. Furthermore, we have performed a systematic variation of excitation frequency and applied external field for the different wave-guide widths. By varying these parameters, the wavelength as well as the propagation direction are tuned, indicating also diagonal and curved propagating of spin-waves that resembles the propagation of light in a graded-index fiber. Additionally, we recreated a data transmission scenario by using a Burst excitation scheme, i.e. four periods of RF excitation followed by a free decay time. Thereby, simultaneously excited multiple modes are carried by the Py wave-guide. They are interleaving without disrupting each other, further confirming the multimode properties of the wave-guide. Surprisingly, these modes did not disperse in frequency during the decay time making this system an ideal candidate for data transmission. In summary, we have directly observed sub-100 nm spin waves in a Py wave-guide by time-resolved STXM. The simple wave-guides were found to be able to non-dispersively carry multiple modes simultaneously. Thus, they are ideal candidates for magnon based data transmission between logic elements and provide a promising basis for future technology developments.

Focusing X-rays to single nanometer dimensions is impeded by the lack of high-quality, high-resolution optics. Challenges in fabricating high aspect ratio 3D nanostructures limit the quality and the resolution. Multilayer zone plates target this challenge by offering virtually unlimited and freely selectable aspect ratios. Here, a full-ceramic zone plate is fabricated via atomic layer deposition of multilayers over optical quality glass fibers and subsequent focused ion beam slicing. The quality of the multilayers is confirmed up to an aspect ratio of 500 with zones as thin as 25 nm. Focusing performance of the fabricated zone plate is tested toward the high-energy limit of a soft X-ray scanning transmission microscope, achieving a 15 nm half-pitch cut-off resolution. Sources of adverse influences are identified, and effective routes for improving the zone plate performance are elaborated, paving a clear path toward using multilayer zone plates in high-energy X-ray microscopy. Finally, a new fabrication concept is introduced for making zone plates with precisely tilted zones, targeting even higher resolutions.

Magnetic droplets are nontopological dynamical solitons that can be nucleated in nanocontact based spin torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy free layers. While theory predicts that the droplet should be of the same size as the nanocontact, its inherent drift instability has thwarted attempts at observing it directly using microscopy techniques. Here, we demonstrate highly stable magnetic droplets in all-perpendicular STNOs and present the first detailed droplet images using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. In contrast to theoretical predictions, we find that the droplet diameter is about twice as large as the nanocontact. By extending the original droplet theory to properly account for the lateral current spread underneath the nanocontact, we show that the large discrepancy primarily arises from current-in-plane Zhang-Li torque adding an outward pressure on the droplet perimeter. Electrical measurements on droplets nucleated using a reversed current in the antiparallel state corroborate this picture.

Acetylcholine is the main transmitter of the parasympathetic vagus nerve. According to the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) concept, acetylcholine has been shown to be important for signal transmission within the immune system and also for a variety of other functions throughout the organism. The spleen is thought to play an important role in regulating the CAP. In contrast, the existence of a “non-neuronal cardiac cholinergic system” that influences cardiac innervation during inflammation has been hypothesized, with recent publications introducing the heart instead of the spleen as a possible interface between the immune and nervous systems. To prove this hypothesis, we investigated whether selectively disrupting vagal stimulation of the right ventricle plays an important role in rat CAP regulation during endotoxemia. We performed a selective resection of the right cardiac branch of the Nervus vagus (VGX) with a corresponding sham resection in vehicle-injected and endotoxemic rats. Rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) and observed for 4 h. Intraoperative blood gas analysis was performed, and hemodynamic parameters were assessed using a left ventricular pressure-volume catheter. Rat hearts and blood were collected, and the expression and concentration of proinflammatory cytokines using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were measured, respectively. Four hours after injection, LPS induced a marked deterioration in rat blood gas parameters such as pH value, potassium, base excess, glucose, and lactate. The mean arterial blood pressure and the end-diastolic volume had decreased significantly. Further, significant increases in blood cholinesterases and in proinflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) cytokine concentration and gene expression were obtained. Right cardiac vagus nerve resection (VGX) led to a marked decrease in heart acetylcholine concentration and an increase in cardiac acetylcholinesterase activity. Without LPS, VGX changed rat hemodynamic parameters, including heart frequency, cardiac output, and end-diastolic volume. In contrast, VGX during endotoxemia did not significantly change the concentration and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the heart. In conclusion we demonstrate that right cardiac vagal innervation regulates cardiac acetylcholine content but neither improves nor worsens systemic inflammation.

A wide range of analytical techniques were used to investigate rock varnish from different locations (Negev, Israel; Knersvlakte, South Africa; Death Valley and Mojave Desert, California): a 200 nm-femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS), an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), focused ion beam (FIB) slicing, and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy–near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM–NEXAFS). This combination enables comprehensive high-spatial-resolution analysis of rock varnish. Femtosecond LA-ICP-MS and EPMA were used for quantitative determination of element concentrations. In-situ measurements were conducted on thick and thin sections with a resolution of 10–40 μm and 2 μm, respectively. The results demonstrate that some elements, such as Mn, Co, Pb, Ni, and Cu, are highly enriched in varnish relative to the upper continental crust (up to a factor of 100). The varnish composition is not influenced by the composition of the underlying rock, which is witnessed by plots of MnO 2 vs. SiO 2 contents. Furthermore, the Mn-free end members fall in the range of average dust compositions. The varnishes from the various locations show distinct differences in some elemental ratios, in particular Mn/Fe (0.3–25.1), Mn/Ba (4–170), Ni/Co (0.03–1.8) and Pb/Ni (0.4–23). The rare earth element (REE) patterns vary with La N /Yb N = 3.5–12 and different degrees of Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 1.5–5.3). To study the internal structure of the varnish, 100–200 nm thick FIB slices were prepared and mappings of Fe, Mn, N, CO 3 2 − , Ca, C, and Si at the nm scale performed. Banded internal structures of Mn, Fe and organic C were observed in the Israeli and Californian samples, however, no Fe-rich layers are present in the South African rock varnish samples. Furthermore, cavities were found that are partly filled by C, Fe, and Mn rich material. Internal structures are different for varnish from different locations, which might reflect different types of genesis. The results of the combined microanalytical techniques give important detailed insights towards unraveling the genesis of rock varnish.

Performance combined with simplicity: we demonstrate that thick Permalloy films exhibiting a weak growth-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can be employed as an ideal test system for the study of magnetodynamical processes in perpendicularly magnetized systems exhibiting magnetic textures ranging from isolated magnetic bubbles to more complex n"pi" states.

Optical engineering 57(08), 084106 (2018). doi:10.1117/1.OE.57.8.084106, Ptychography is a diffraction imaging method that allows one to solve inverse problems in microscopy with the ability to retrieve information about and correct for systematic errors. Here, we propose techniques to correct for axial position uncertainty, detector point spread, and inhomogeneous detector response using ptychography’s inherent self-calibration capabilities. The proposed methods are tested with visible light and x-ray experimental data. We believe that the results are important for precise calibration of ptychographic experimental setups and rigorous quantification of partially coherent beams by means of ptychography., Published by SPIE, Bellingham, Wash.

A kinoform lens is a highly efficient photonic device capable of focusing a wide range of electromagnetic radiation. Unfortunately, its realization without the need of any approximation remained elusive for a very long time. A direct, simple and precise fabrication method was still missing. Here, an efficient preparation scheme is presented for the first time. Two kinoform lenses made out of polycrystalline gold and nano-crystalline PdSi, are successfully fabricated, thoroughly characterized and tested for their ultimate focusing performances at soft X-ray energies. The fabrication is made possible by means of gray-scale direct-write ion beam lithography. A first ever 2D imaging is carried out via scanning transmission X-ray microscopy achieving resolutions down to 60 nm. The diffraction efficiency is measured to be 77% to 89% of the theoretical value and is only limited by the strong absorption at the soft X-ray energy range. The impact of materials selection on the final quality of the lens is emphasized. The overall results enable the production of almost perfect kinoform profiles with high precision. This opens unprecedented perspectives for the focusing of soft and hard X-rays at very high efficiencies and paves the way toward new applications in a wider energy range.

To probe the influence of hydrogen bonding on the electronic structure of ammonia, gas phase and aqueous NH3 have been investigated using soft X-ray absorption (XAS), resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering (RIXS), and electronic structure calculations including dynamical effects. Strong spectral differences in the XAS scans as well as in the RIXS spectra between gas phase and aqueous NH3 are attributed to orbital mixing with the water orbitals, dipole-dipole interactions, differences in vibronic coupling, and nuclear dynamics on the time-scale of the RIXS process. All of these effects are consequences of hydrogen bonding and the impact of the associated orbitals, demonstrating the power of XAS and RIXS as unique tools to study hydrogen bonding in liquids.

A novel approach to investigate geometrical frustration is introduced using two-dimensional magnonic vortex crystals. The frustration of the crystal can be manipulated and turned on and off dynamically on the timescale of milliseconds. The vortices are studied using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy and ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. They are arranged analogous to the nanomagnets in artificial spin-ice systems. The polarization state of the vortices is tuned in a way that geometrical frustration arises. We demonstrate that frustrated polarization states and non-frustrated states can be tuned to the crystal by changing the frequency of the state formation process.

Fungi are of increasing importance in sepsis. However, culture-based diagnostic procedures are associated with relevant weaknesses. Therefore, culture- and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based fungal findings as well as corresponding plasma levels of β-d-glucan, interferon gamma (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -6, -10, -17A, and mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) were evaluated in 50 septic patients at six consecutive time points within 28 days after sepsis onset. Furthermore, immune-response patterns during infections with Candida spp. were studied in a reconstituted human epithelium model. In total, 22% (n = 11) of patients suffered from a fungal infection. An NGS-based diagnostic approach appeared to be suitable for the identification of fungal pathogens in patients suffering from fungemia as well as in patients with negative blood cultures. Moreover, MR-proADM and IL-17A in plasma proved suitable for the identification of patients with a fungal infection. Using RNA-seq., adrenomedullin (ADM) was shown to be a target gene which is upregulated early after an epithelial infection with Candida spp. In summary, an NGS-based diagnostic approach was able to close the diagnostic gap of routinely used culture-based diagnostic procedures, which can be further facilitated by plasmatic measurements of MR-proADM and IL-17A. In addition, ADM was identified as an early target gene in response to epithelial infections with Candida spp.

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. We investigated rock varnishes collected from several locations and environments worldwide by a broad range of microanalytical techniques. These techniques were selected to address the challenges posed by the chemical and structural complexity within the micrometer- to nanometer-sized structures in these geological materials. Femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (fs LA-ICP-MS), scanning transmission X-ray microscopy-near edge X-ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS) in combination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of focused ion beam (FIB) ultra-thin (100–200 nm) sections, conventional and polarization microscopy, as well as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements were used to obtain information about these rock varnishes. Rock varnishes from different environments, which cannot readily be distinguished based on their macroscopic appearance, differ significantly in their constituent elemental mass fractions, e.g., of Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Ba, and Pb, and their rare earth element (REE) patterns. Structural characteristics such as the particle sizes of embedded dust grains, internal structures such as layers of Mn-, Fe-, and Ca -rich material, and structures such as cavities varied between varnishes from different environments and regions in the world. The EPR spectra were consistent with aged biogenic Mn oxides in all samples, but showed subtle differences between samples of different origin. Our observations allow us to separate rock varnishes into different types, with differences that might be indicators of distinct geneses. Five different types of rock varnish could be distinguished, Type I–V, of which only Type I might be used as potential paleoclimate archive. Each varnish type has specific characteristics in terms of their elemental composition, element distribution, and structures. The combination of element ratios (Mn/Ba, Al/Ni, Mn/REY, Mn/Ce, Mn/Pb, LaN/YbN, and Ce/Ce*), total REE contents, and structures can be used to separate the different types of rock varnish from each other.

A ring-shaped magnetic logic device offers two vortex states (clockwise and counterclockwise) to encode bits, with relative stability against external magnetic fields. The dynamics of magnetization switching in such structures, though, still need unraveling. The authors present direct experimental visualization of reproducible, robust switching in magnetic rings via domain-wall automotion, which does not require an applied field. Simulations reveal that annihilation of domain walls through automotion always occurs, with the detailed topology of the walls only influencing the dynamics locally, in line with the experimental results.