Charge Condensation and Lattice Coupling Drives Stripe Formation in Nickelates.

Revealing the predominant driving force behind symmetry breaking in correlated materials is sometimes a formidable task due to the intertwined nature of different degrees of freedom. This is the case for La_{2-x}Sr_{x}NiO_{4+δ}, in which coupled incommensurate charge and spin stripes form at low temperatures. Here, we use resonant x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to study the temporal stability and domain memory of the charge and spin stripes in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}NiO_{4+δ}. Although spin stripes are more spatially correlated, charge stripes maintain a better temporal stability against temperature change. More intriguingly, charge order shows robust domain memory with thermal cycling up to 250 K, far above the ordering temperature. These results demonstrate the pinning of charge stripes to the lattice and that charge condensation is the predominant factor in the formation of stripe orders in nickelates.

Spontaneous Magnetic Superdomain Wall Fluctuations in an Artificial Antiferromagnet.

Collective dynamics often play an important role in determining the stability of ground states for both naturally occurring materials and metamaterials. We studied the temperature dependent dynamics of antiferromagnetically ordered superdomains in a square artificial spin lattice using soft x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. We observed an exponential slowing down of superdomain wall motion below the antiferromagnetic onset temperature, similar to the behavior of typical bulk antiferromagnets. Using a continuous time random walk model we show that these superdomain walls undergo low-temperature ballistic and high-temperature diffusive motions.

Spatially resolved ultrafast magnetic dynamics initiated at a complex oxide heterointerface.

Static strain in complex oxide heterostructures has been extensively used to engineer electronic and magnetic properties at equilibrium. In the same spirit, deformations of the crystal lattice with light may be used to achieve functional control across heterointerfaces dynamically. Here, by exciting large-amplitude infrared-active vibrations in a LaAlO3 substrate we induce magnetic order melting in a NdNiO3 film across a heterointerface. Femtosecond resonant soft X-ray diffraction is used to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of the magnetic disordering. We observe a magnetic melt front that propagates from the substrate interface into the film, at a speed that suggests electronically driven motion. Light control and ultrafast phase front propagation at heterointerfaces may lead to new opportunities in optomagnetism, for example by driving domain wall motion to transport information across suitably designed devices.

Remarkable Stability of Charge Density Wave Order in La_{1.875}Ba_{0.125}CuO_{4}.

The occurrence of charge-density-wave (CDW) order in underdoped cuprates is now well established, although the precise nature of the CDW and its relationship with superconductivity is not. Theoretical proposals include contrasting ideas such as that pairing may be driven by CDW fluctuations or that static CDWs may intertwine with a spatially modulated superconducting wave function. We test the dynamics of CDW order in La_{1.825}Ba_{0.125}CuO_{4} by using x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy at the CDW wave vector, detected resonantly at the Cu L_{3} edge. We find that the CDW domains are strikingly static, with no evidence of significant fluctuations up to 2 ¾ h. We discuss the implications of these results for some of the competing theories.

Melting of charge stripes in vibrationally driven La(1.875)Ba(0.125)CuO4: assessing the respective roles of electronic and lattice order in frustrated superconductors.

We report femtosecond resonant soft x-ray diffraction measurements of the dynamics of the charge order and of the crystal lattice in nonsuperconducting, stripe-ordered La1.875Ba0.125CuO4. Excitation of the in-plane Cu-O stretching phonon with a midinfrared pulse has been previously shown to induce a transient superconducting state in the closely related compound La1.675Eu0.2Sr0.125CuO4. In La1.875Ba0.125CuO4, we find that the charge stripe order melts promptly on a subpicosecond time scale. Surprisingly, the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) distortion is only weakly reduced, reacting on significantly longer time scales that do not correlate with light-induced superconductivity. This experiment suggests that charge modulations alone, and not the LTT distortion, prevent superconductivity in equilibrium.

Observation of electronic ferroelectric polarization in multiferroic YMn2O5.

We report the observation of a magnetic polarization of the O 2p states in YMn(2)O(5) through the use of soft x-ray resonant scattering at the oxygen K edge. Remarkably, we find that the temperature dependence of the integrated intensity of this signal closely follows the macroscopic electric polarization, and hence is proportional to the ferroelectric order parameter. This is in contrast with the temperature dependence observed at the Mn L(3) edge, which reflects the Mn magnetic order parameter. First-principles calculations provide a microscopic understanding of these results and show that a spin-dependent hybridization of O 2p and Mn 3d states results in a purely electronic contribution to the ferroelectric polarization, which can exist in the absence of lattice distortions.

Antiferromagnetically spin polarized oxygen observed in magnetoelectric TbMn2O5.

We report the direct measurement of antiferromagnetic spin polarization at the oxygen sites in the multiferroic TbMn2O5, through resonant soft x-ray magnetic scattering. This supports recent theoretical models suggesting that the oxygen spin polarization is key to the magnetoelectric coupling mechanism. The spin polarization is observed through a resonantly enhanced diffraction signal at the oxygen K edge at the commensurate antiferromagnetic wave vector. Using the fdmnes code we have accurately reproduced the experimental data. We have established that the resonance arises through the spin polarization on the oxygen sites hybridized with the square based pyramid Mn3+ ions. Furthermore we have discovered that the position of the Mn3+ ion directly influences the oxygen spin polarization.

Nature of the magnetic order and origin of induced ferroelectricity in TbMnO3.

The magnetic structures which endow TbMnO(3) with its multiferroic properties have been reassessed on the basis of a comprehensive soft x-ray resonant scattering (XRS) study. The selectivity of XRS facilitated separation of the various contributions (Mn L(2) edge, Mn 3d moments; Tb M(4) edge, Tb 4f moments), while its variation with azimuth provided information on the moment direction of distinct Fourier components. When the data are combined with a detailed group theory analysis, a new picture emerges of the ferroelectric transition at 28 K. Instead of being driven by the transition from a collinear to a noncollinear magnetic structure, as has previously been supposed, it is shown to occur between two noncollinear structures.

Charge density wave memory in a cuprate superconductor.

Although CDW correlations are a ubiquitous feature of the superconducting cuprates, their disparate properties suggest a crucial role for pinning the CDW to the lattice. Here, we report coherent resonant X-ray speckle correlation analysis, which directly determines the reproducibility of CDW domain patterns in La1.875Ba0.125CuO4 (LBCO 1/8) with thermal cycling. While CDW order is only observed below 54 K, where a structural phase transition creates inequivalent Cu-O bonds, we discover remarkably reproducible CDW domain memory upon repeated cycling to far higher temperatures. That memory is only lost on cycling to 240(3) K, which recovers the four-fold symmetry of the CuO2 planes. We infer that the structural features that develop below 240 K determine the CDW pinning landscape below 54 K. This opens a view into the complex coupling between charge and lattice degrees of freedom in superconducting cuprates.

Imaging antiferromagnetic antiphase domain boundaries using magnetic Bragg diffraction phase contrast.

Manipulating magnetic domains is essential for many technological applications. Recent breakthroughs in Antiferromagnetic Spintronics brought up novel concepts for electronic device development. Imaging antiferromagnetic domains is of key importance to this field. Unfortunately, some of the basic domain types, such as antiphase domains, cannot be imaged by conventional techniques. Herein, we present a new domain projection imaging technique based on the localization of domain boundaries by resonant magnetic diffraction of coherent X rays. Contrast arises from reduction of the scattered intensity at the domain boundaries due to destructive interference effects. We demonstrate this approach by imaging antiphase domains in a collinear antiferromagnet Fe2Mo3O8, and observe evidence of domain wall interaction with a structural defect. This technique does not involve any numerical algorithms. It is fast, sensitive, produces large-scale images in a single-exposure measurement, and is applicable to a variety of magnetic domain types.

Hemothorax associated with endometriosis.

Fifteen cases have been reported of pleural effusion associated with endometriosis. Common characteristics that may aid in the diagnosis are discussed and an additional case is presented.

Full polarization analysis of resonant superlattice and forbidden x-ray reflections in magnetite.

Despite being one of the oldest known magnetic materials, and the classic mixed valence compound, thought to be charge ordered, the structure of magnetite below the Verwey transition is complex and the presence and role of charge order is still being debated. Here, we present resonant x-ray diffraction data at the iron K-edge on forbidden (0, 0, 2n+1)(C) and superlattice [Formula: see text] reflections. Full linear polarization analysis of the incident and scattered light was conducted in order to explore the origins of the reflections. Through simulation of the resonant spectra we have confirmed that a degree of charge ordering takes place, while the anisotropic tensor of susceptibility scattering is responsible for the superlattice reflections below the Verwey transition. We also report the surprising result of the conversion of a significant proportion of the scattered light from linear to nonlinear polarization.

Determination of the antiferroquadrupolar order parameters in UPd(3).

By combining accurate heat capacity and x-ray resonant scattering results we have resolved the long standing question regarding the nature of the quadrupolar ordered phases in UPd(3). The order parameter of the highest temperature quadrupolar phase has been uniquely determined to be antiphase Q{zx} in contrast to the previous conjecture of Q{x{2}-y{2}}. The azimuthal dependence of the x-ray scattering intensity from the quadrupolar superlattice reflections indicates that the lower temperature phases are described by a superposition of order parameters. The heat capacity features associated with each of the phase transitions characterize their order, which imposes restrictions on the matrix elements of the quadrupolar operators.

Resonant soft X-ray diffraction - in extremis.

The use of softer-energy X-rays produced by synchrotron radiation for diffraction is an area of current interest. In this paper, experiments exploiting resonant scattering at the L absorption edges of 3d transition metal elements are reported. Such energies, typically 500-1000 eV, are at the extreme limit of soft X-ray diffraction where absorption effects are so severe that the sample and diffractometer must be placed in a windowless high-vacuum vessel. In addition, the Ewald sphere is so small as to likely contain, at most, only a single Bragg reflection. Advantages of using such radiation for the study of weak diffraction effects such as anomalous scattering, charge ordering, magnetic diffraction and orbital ordering are reported.

Soft X-ray resonant magnetic diffraction.

We have conducted the first soft x-ray diffraction experiments from a bulk single crystal, studying the bilayer manganite La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7 with x=0.475 in which we were able to access the (002) Bragg reflection using soft x rays. The Bragg reflection displays a strong resonant enhancement at the L(III) and L(II) manganese absorption edges. We demonstrate that the resonant enhancement of the magnetic diffraction of the (001) is extremely large, indeed so large that it exceeds that of the nonresonant Bragg diffraction. Resonant soft x-ray scattering of 3d transition metal oxides is the only technique for the atomic selective measurement of spin, charge, and orbital correlations in materials, such as high temperature superconductors, colossal magnetoresistance manganites, and charge stripe nickelates.

Direct observation of orbital ordering in La0.5Sr1.5MnO4 using soft x-ray diffraction.

We report the first direct resonant soft x-ray scattering observations of orbital ordering. We have studied the low temperature phase of La0.5Sr1.5MnO4, a compound that displays charge and orbital ordering. Previous claims of orbital ordering in such materials have relied on observations at the manganese K edge. These claims have been questioned in several theoretical studies. Instead we have employed resonant soft x-ray scattering at the manganese L(III) and L(II) edges which probes the orbital ordering directly. Energy scans at constant wave vector are compared to theoretical predictions and suggest that at all temperatures there are two separate contributions to the scattering: direct orbital ordering and strong cooperative Jahn-Teller distortions of the Mn3+ ions.