Physics and Materials Science applications of synchrotron light
Determining the properties and morphology of buried layers and interfaces remains an important area in solid-state science. Many of the technological products of materials science are based on thin-film devices, which consist of a series of such layers. Structural studies of in-situ processing of semiconducting polymer films is also likely to be an important area of growth in the coming decade.
Diffraction of high-intensity x-ray beams is an ideal technique to study spin, charge and orbital ordering in single crystal samples to understand high temperature superconductivity.
Magnetic contrast in images will be provided by exploiting either circular or linear dichroism. At 10 nm resolution, the nanoscience beamline provides high quality images of the magnetic domains of thin films and multilayers, clusters, exchange-biased films, giant magnetoresistive metals and metal-semiconductor spintronic materials. At higher spatial resolutions it is possible to conduct experiments on individual nanoclusters. Through X-ray PEEM, Diamond’s nanoscience beamline is significantly advancing our understanding of the formation, composition, structure and properties of nanostructures. Spectroscopy on nanosized particles will unravel their electronic and chemical properties which may be dominated by the surface due to a large surface to volume ratio.
To discuss possible physics and materials science experiments at Diamond, please contact the relevant beamline scientist or Andy Dent.
Listen to Diamond staff and users talk about nanoscience applications in the Diamond podcast
Physics and Materials Science Highlights
- Better materials, better devices
18 Feb 2010
Extending our knowledge of how magnetic materials behave on an atomic scale has led to considerable technological advances, particularly in the area of information storage. University of Leeds scientists Read more... - Man vs Nature - developing new materials whilst shedding light on some of Nature’s engineering marvels
16 Sep 2009
Since the Stone Age humans have been adept at selecting materials for specific tasks based on the material’s properties. With the discovery of smelting man learned to manipulate materials to improve Read more... - Probing the average size of metal nanoparticles
08 Sep 2009
Many nanotechnology and biotechnology applications rely on how tiny metal particles arrange themselves on flat surfaces. These patterned structures on the nanometre scale are of great importance in making Read more... - The intriguing behaviour of bilayer manganites
31 Jul 2009
Transition metal oxides are an intriguing class of materials since it is possible to drastically modify their properties by changing their temperature, applying a magnetic field or simply by irradiating Read more... - Understanding Magnetism
05 Mar 2009
Extending our knowledge of how magnetic materials behave on an atomic scale has led to considerable technological advances, particularly in the area of information storage. Scientists have been using the Read more...