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Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is an extremely valuable tool for the study of elementary, including magnetic, excitations in matter. The latest developments of this technique have mostly been aimed at improving the energy resolution and performing polarization analysis of the scattered radiation, with a great impact on the interpretation and applicability of RIXS. Instead, this article focuses on the sample environment and presents a setup for high-pressure low-temperature RIXS measurements of low-energy excitations. The feasibility of these experiments is proved by probing the magnetic excitations of the bilayer iridate Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 at pressures up to 12 GPa.

In addition to complex spin-ice and spin-liquid states of rare-earth pyrochlore oxides, A2Ir2O7 iridates have been recently proposed to host a cooling-field-controllable antiferromagnetic domain structure of iridium moments. Reliable and profound studies of the magnetic domain structure, including domains’ interfaces, have been frequently limited by insufficient sample quality or lack of single crystals. We report the magnetic properties of the for-the-first-time synthesised Lu2Ir2O7 and Er2Ir2O7 single crystals; focussing on the robust ferromagnetic component of magnetisation present in the material with the antiferromagnetically ordered state of the all-in-all-out (AIAO) type. Anisotropy of the system, as well as the effects of magnetic (Er3+) or nonmagnetic (Lu3+) local environments on Ir4+ moments, is studied. The size of the domains is calculated based on a simplified domain wall model. Results are discussed in the framework of AIAO and AOAI domains and interfaces on the geometrically frustrated lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of hydride phases in the noble metals copper, silver, and gold was investigated by in situ x-ray diffraction at high hydrogen pressures. In the case of copper, a novel hexagonal hydride phase, Cu2H, was synthesised at pressures above 18.6 GPa. This compound exhibits an anti-CdI2-type structure, where hydrogen atoms occupy every second layer of octahedral interstitial sites. In contrast to chemically produced CuH, this phase does not show a change in compressibility compared to pure copper. Furthermore, repeated compression (after decomposition of Cu2H) led to the formation of cubic copper hydride at 12.5 GPa, a phenomenon attributed to an alteration of the microstructure during dehydrogenation. No hydrides of silver (up to 87 GPa) or gold (up to 113 GPa) were found at both room and high temperatures.

High-pressure x-ray absorption spectroscopy was performed at the Ir L 3 and L 2 absorption edges of Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 . The branching ratio of white-line intensities continuously decreases with pressure, reflecting a reduction in the angular part of the expectation value of the spin-orbit coupling operator, ( L . S ) . Up to the high-pressure structural transition at 53 GPa, this behavior can be explained within a single-ion model, where pressure increases the strength of the cubic crystal field, which suppresses the spin-orbit induced hybridization of Jeff = 3 / 2 and e g levels. We observe a further reduction of the branching ratio above the structural transition, which cannot be explained within a single-ion model of spin-orbit coupling and cubic crystal fields. This change in ( L . S ) in the high-pressure, metallic phase of Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 could arise from noncubic crystal fields or a bandwidth-driven hybridization of Jeff = 1 / 2 , 3 / 2 states and suggests that the electronic ground state significantly deviates from the Jeff = 1 / 2 limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth pyrochlore iridates host two interlocking magnetic sublattices of corner-sharing tetrahedra and can harbour a unique combination of frustrated moments, exotic excitations and highly correlated electrons. They are also the first systems predicted to display both topological Weyl semimetal and axion insulator phases. We have measured the transport and magnetotransport properties of single-crystal Sm2Ir2O7 up to and beyond the pressure-induced quantum critical point for all-in-all-out (AIAO) Ir order at pc = 63 kbar previously identified by resonant X-ray scattering and close to which Weyl semimetallic behavior has been previously predicted. Our findings overturn the accepted expectation that the suppression of AIAO order should lead to metallic conduction persisting down to zero temperature. Instead, the resistivity-minimum temperature, which tracks the decrease in the AIAO ordering temperature for pressures up to 30 kbar, begins to increase under further application of pressure, pointing to the presence of a second as-yet unidentified mechanism leading to non-metallic behavior. The magnetotransport does track the suppression of Ir magnetism, however, with a strong hysteresis observed only within the AIAO phase boundary, similar to that found for Ho2Ir2O7 and attributed to plastic deformation of Ir domains. Around pc we find the emergence of a new type of electronic phase, characterized by a negative magnetoresistance with small hysteresis at the lowest temperatures, and hysteresis-free positive magnetoresistance above approximately 5 K. The temperature dependence of our low-temperature transport data are found to be best described by a model consistent with a Weyl semimetal across the entire pressure range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using resonant magnetic x-ray scattering we address the unresolved nature of the magnetic ground state and the low-energy effective Hamiltonian of Sm2Ir2O7, a prototypical pyrochlore iridate with a finite temperature metal-insulator transition. Through a combination of elastic and inelastic measurements, we show that the magnetic ground state is an all-in-all-out (AIAO) antiferromagnet. The magnon dispersion indicates significant electronic correlations and can be well described by a minimal Hamiltonian that includes Heisenberg exchange [J=27.3(6)meV] and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions [D=4.9(3)meV], which provides a consistent description of the magnetic order and excitations. In establishing that Sm2Ir2O7 has the requisite inversion symmetry preserving AIAO magnetic ground state, our results support the notion that pyrochlore iridates may host correlated Weyl semimetals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the structural evolution of Sr3Ir2O7 as a function of pressure using x-ray diffraction. At a pressure of 54 GPa at room temperature, we observe a first-order structural phase transition, associated with a change from tetragonal to monoclinic symmetry and accompanied by a 4% volume collapse. Rietveld refinement of the high-pressure phase reveals a novel modification of the Ruddlesden-Popper structure, which adopts an altered stacking sequence of the perovskite bilayers. As the positions of the oxygen atoms could not be reliably refined from the data, we use density functional theory (local-density approximation+U+spin orbit) to optimize the crystal structure and to elucidate the electronic and magnetic properties of Sr3Ir2O7 at high pressure. In the low-pressure tetragonal phase, we find that the in-plane rotation of the IrO6 octahedra increases with pressure. The calculations further indicate that a bandwidth-driven insulator-metal transition occurs at ~20 GPa, along with a quenching of the magnetic moment. In the high-pressure monoclinic phase, structural optimization resulted in complex tilting and rotation of the oxygen octahedra and strongly overlapping t2g and eg bands. The t2g bandwidth renders both the spin-orbit coupling and electronic correlations ineffectual in opening an electronic gap, resulting in a robust metallic state for the high-pressure phase of Sr3Ir2O7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A von Hamos spectrometer has been implemented in the vacuum interaction chamber 1 of the High Energy Density instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser facility. This setup is dedicated, but not necessarily limited, to X-ray spectroscopy measurements of samples exposed to static compression using a diamond anvil cell. Si and Ge analyser crystals with different orientations are available for this setup, covering the hard X-ray energy regime with a sub-eV energy resolution. The setup was commissioned by measuring various emission spectra of free-standing metal foils and oxide samples in the energy range between 6 and 11 keV as well as low momentum-transfer inelastic X-ray scattering from a diamond sample. Its capabilities to study samples at extreme pressures and temperatures have been demonstrated by measuring the electronic spin-state changes of (Fe0.5Mg0.5)O, contained in a diamond anvil cell and pressurized to 100 GPa, via monitoring the Fe K-fluorescence with a set of four Si(531) analyser crystals at close to melting temperatures. The efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrometer enables valence-to-core emission signals to be studied and single pulse X-ray emission from samples in a diamond anvil cell to be measured, opening new perspectives for spectroscopy in extreme conditions research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An endstation for resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), dedicated to operations in the hard X-ray regime, has been constructed at the 1C beamline of Pohang Light Source II. At the Ir L3-edge, a total energy resolution of 34.2 meV was achieved, close to the theoretical estimation of 34.0 meV, which considers factors such as the incident energy bandpass, intrinsic analyzer resolution, geometrical broadening of the spectrometer, finite beam-size effect and Johann aberration. The performance of the RIXS instrument is demonstrated by measuring the RIXS spectra of Sr2IrO4. The endstation can be easily reconfigured to measure energy-integrated intensities with very low background for diffuse scattering and diffraction experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent progress in generating static pressures up to terapascal values opens opportunities for studying novel materials with unusual properties, such as metallization of hydrogen and high-temperature superconductivity. However, an evaluation of pressure above ~0.3 terapascal is a challenge. We report a universal high-pressure scale up to ~0.5 terapascal, which is based on the shift of the Raman edge of stressed diamond anvils correlated with the equation of state of Au and does not require an additional pressure sensor. According to the new scale, the pressure values are substantially lower by 20% at ~0.5 terapascal compared to the extrapolation of the existing scales. We compare the available data of H2 at the highest static pressures. We show that the onset of the proposed metallization of molecular hydrogen reported by different groups is consistent when corrected with the new scale and can be compared with various theoretical predictions. The progress in generating high static pressures in diamond anvil cells opens opportunities for studying novel materials with unusual properties. Here, the authors report a universal high-pressure diamond edge Raman scale up to 500 gigapascals, which does not require an additional pressure sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnonic devices operating at terahertz frequencies offer intriguing prospects for high-speed electronics with minimal energy dissipation However, guiding and manipulating terahertz magnons via external parameters present formidable challenges. Here we report the results of magnetic Raman scattering experiments on the antiferromagnetic spin-orbit Mott insulator Sr2IrO4 under uniaxial stress. We find that the energies of zone-center magnons are extremely stress sensitive: lattice strain of 0.1% increases the magnon energy by 40%. The magnon response is symmetric with respect to the sign of the applied stress (tensile or compressive), but depends strongly on its direction in the IrO2 planes. A theory based on coupling of the spin-orbit-entangled iridium magnetic moments to lattice distortions provides a quantitative explanation of the Raman data and a comprehensive framework for the description of magnon-lattice interactions in magnets with strong spin-orbit coupling. The possibility to efficiently manipulate the propagation of terahertz magnons via external stress opens up multifold design options for reconfigurable magnonic devices. There has been significant interest in using spin-waves or magnons for information processing, due to their low energy dissipation and short wavelength at terahertz frequencies, however, manipulating magnons can be challenging. Here, Kim et al show that magnons in Sr2IrO4 are extremely strain sensitive, with small applied strains leading to large variation in the magnon energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of synchrotron and neutron methods for studying the atomic and magnetic dynamics of condensed matter had been discussed previously in the literature. Since then, an extensive material has been accumulated in this field, correspondingly, many questions must be reconsidered and some statements must be corrected. Some latest achievements in this field have been reviewed and an attempt is made to perform a comparative analysis of the techniques based on these two types of radiation, which have proved their efficiency. This review pretends in no way to be exhaustive and is not free of subjectivism, caused by the personal scientific interests of the author. Nonetheless, it will be useful for the researchers planning to use the complementarity of these methods in their studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetically frustrated systems provide fertile ground for complex behaviour, including unconventional ground states with emergent symmetries, topological properties, and exotic excitations. A canonical example is the emergence of magnetic-charge-carrying quasiparticles in spin-ice compounds. Despite extensive work, a reliable experimental indicator of the density of these magnetic monopoles is yet to be found. Using measurements on single crystals of Ho2Ir2O7 combined with dipolar Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the isothermal magnetoresistance is highly sensitive to the monopole density. Moreover, we uncover an unexpected and strong coupling between the monopoles on the holmium sublattice and the antiferromagnetically ordered iridium ions. These results pave the way towards a quantitative experimental measure of monopole density and demonstrate the ability to control antiferromagnetic domain walls using a uniform external magnetic field, a key goal in the design of next-generation spintronic devices. Magnetic monopoles emerge as magnetic excitations in spin ices, but their direct detection has been challenging. Here the authors show that the magnetoresistance in a pyrochlore iridate spin ice could be used as a measure of the monopole density and demonstrate magnetic-field control of the antiferromagnetic iridium domain walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Introduction: As a typical consequence of bleeding into muscles and joints, patients with severe hemophilia suffer from acute and chronic pain. In spite of its high prevalence, pain in this patient group is not always sufficiently considered or treated in an effective manner. Aim: The recommendations presented in this paper address possible improvements in pain management in hemophilia patients and particularities that have to be taken into account in this patient group. Method: The manifold aspects of pain management in hemophilia patients were discussed within the framework of an expert meeting. Based on the available literature and the experts' clinical experience, the participants developed a set of recommendations presented in this paper. Results: Pain management in patients with hemophilia is often insufficient, a fact that not only influences the patients' quality of life but also implies the risk of difficult to manage chronic pain. Both the prevalent polypharmacy (due to comorbidities) as well as the underlying disease itself present special challenges to pain therapy in this patient group. The present review and recommendations are intended to support medical professionals in recognising the risks of pain chronicity, applying basic principles of multimodal pain therapy, including the options of psychological intervention and modalities of physical medicine in therapy concepts, and reaching a comprehensive understanding of the range of analgesic options available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ growth of pyrochlore iridate thin films has been a long-standing challenge due to the low reactivity of Ir at low temperatures and the vaporization of volatile gas species such as IrO3(g) and IrO2(g) at high temperatures and high PO2. To address this challenge, we combine thermodynamic analysis of the Pr-Ir-O2 system with experimental results from the conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique of co-sputtering. Our results indicate that only high growth temperatures yield films with crystallinity sufficient for utilizing and tailoring the desired topological electronic properties and the in situ synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7 thin films is fettered by the inability to grow with PO2 on the order of 10 Torr at high temperatures, a limitation inherent to the PVD process. Thus, we suggest techniques capable of supplying high partial pressure of key species during deposition, in particular chemical vapor deposition (CVD), as a route to synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The experimental evidence for the contraction of volume of gold implanted with hydrogen at low doses is presented. The contraction of lattice upon the addition of other elements is very rare and extraordinary in the solid-state, not only for gold but also for many other solids. To explain the underlying physics, the pure kinetic theory of absorption is not adequate and the detailed interaction of hydrogen in the lattice needs to be clarified. Our analysis points to the importance of the formation of hydride bonds in a dynamic manner and explains why these bonds become weak at higher doses, leading to the inverse process of volume expansion frequently seen in metallic hydrogen containers. Hydrogen can be absorbed into various metals, but generally causes the metals to expand. Here the authors show that when hydrogen is dynamically bound to the lattice, as in dilute Au:H solutions, the gold contracts accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first application of double-stage diamond anvil cells (ds-DACs) to X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of Rhenium (Re) metal. By using highly stable and sub-micron sized X-ray beam, XAS spectra were successfully observed at the L 2 , 3 -edges from the sample encapsulated in the small space between the second-stage anvils. The pressure generation exceeding 300 GPa was evaluated by the pressure-induced shift of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) oscillation at the L 3 -edge. The profile of white-line at the L 2 , 3 -edges broadened with increasing pressure, which indicates the modification of the Re 5 d band structure. The present results demonstrate the high ability of XAS technique combined with ds-DACs as a probe for crystal structure and electronic structure under ultrahigh pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-polycrystalline diamonds (NPDs) have become fundamental tools for cutting-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies at high P/T conditions that opened up new research directions by overcoming previous limitations. Indeed, NPDs yield a continuous and weak X-ray background signal which enables the collection of high-quality XAS data of materials compressed in diamond anvil cells. This is a critical advantage over the classically used single-crystal diamonds that generate strong parasitic signals (glitches) which render the analysis of XAS data in many cases impossible. In this contribution we give an overview of the impact and the scientific opportunities that NPDs opened up for extreme condition XAS spectroscopy at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and discuss future needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependence of the excitation spectrum in NaOsO3 through its metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) at 410 K has been investigated using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Os L3 edge. High-resolution (ΔE ~ 56 meV) measurements show that the well-defined, low-energy magnons in the insulating state weaken and dampen upon approaching the metallic state. Concomitantly, a broad continuum of excitations develops which is well described by the magnetic fluctuations of a nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquid. By revealing the continuous evolution of the magnetic quasiparticle spectrum as it changes its character from itinerant to localized, our results provide unprecedented insight into the nature of the MIT in NaOsO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collective magnetic excitations in the spin-orbit Mott insulator (Sr1-xLax)2 IrO4 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.04, 0.1) were investigated by means of resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. We report significant magnon energy gaps at both the crystallographic and antiferromagnetic zone centers at all doping levels, along with a remarkably pronounced momentum-dependent lifetime broadening. The spin-wave gap is accounted for by a significant anisotropy in the interactions between Jeff = 1/2 isospins, thus marking the departure of Sr2IrO4 from the essentially isotropic Heisenberg model appropriate for the superconducting cuprates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]