The newly formed Magnetic Materials Group concentrates on emergent phenomena in quantum materials using the capabilities of beamlines I06, I10, I16, B16 and I21. The research encompasses a variety of challenges and opportunities at the frontiers of condensed matter physics and materials science ranging from topological states of matter, superconductivity, spintronics, two-dimensional systems, skyrmions and multiferroics.

The key insights made by researchers exploit the high sensitivity of polarised X-ray spectroscopy, microscopy and scattering available across the beamlines. For instance, polarised soft X-rays combined with the PhotoEmission Electron Microscope (PEEM) on the Nanoscience beamline (I06) have visualised the domain dynamics underpinning antiferromagnetic spintronics while the resonant soft X-ray scattering on the BLADE: X-ray Dichroism and Scattering beamline (I10) has been used to understand the topological properties of skyrmions. On the Materials and Magnetism beamline (I16), interference effects in hard X-ray scattering have led to a deeper understanding of long-range magnetic ordering in canted antiferromagnets. The Inelastic X-ray Scattering beamline (I21) is in a commissioning phase, but has had already performed ground breaking experiments measuring orbital excitations, magnon dispersion and electron-phonon coupling in several highly-correlated systems. In this inaugural contribution to the annual highlights we present research from our user community that uniquely demonstrates how polarised X-ray science can uncover dramatic changes in the magnetic properties of materials from subtle changes to the geometric and electronic structure.