Scientists have detected a novel chemical state of the element manganese that was first proposed about 90 years ago. The discovery enables the design of a high-performance, low-cost battery that, according to its developers, outperforms Department of Energy goals on cost and cycle life for grid-scale energy storage. Read more »
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Toward Control of Spin States for Molecular Electronics
Researchers demonstrated, via x-ray absorption spectroscopy, that a molecule’s spin state can be reversibly switched at constant room temperature by magnetism. The results represent a major step toward the goal of programmable, nanoscale molecular electronics for high-speed, low-power, logic and memory applications. Read more »
Experiment Safety Assessment Form (ESAF) to Replace ESS
The ALS is transitioning from the Experiment Safety Sheet (ESS) to the Experiment Safety Assessment Form (ESAF). Although the ESS software will continue to be available for several months, we will encourage most users to use the ESAF system. Follow instructions in your email reminder to access the appropriate system for your beamline. For beam time after April 12, most users will be expected to use the new ESAF tool. Read more »
Local High Schoolers Get “The ALS Experience”
As part of a pilot program to strengthen the STEM career pipeline in the East Bay, Berkeley Lab’s Workforce Development & Education and the Advanced Light Source recently collaborated on a high school study trip. Students from two local high schools worked with scientists at the ALS to design custom experiments and then spent a day at the ALS running their experiments and learning about the ALS and Berkeley Lab. Read more »
Twisted Structures Emerge from Achiral Molecules
The spontaneous formation of chiral structures from achiral molecules could shed light on the origin of biological homochirality—how one type of chirality dominated the other in certain biological molecules. Here, resonant soft x-ray scattering (RSoXS) has been used to explore helical phases that emerge from achiral asymmetric dimers. Read more »
Phase Diagram Leads the Way to Tailored Metamaterial Responses
Researchers discovered an innovative way to independently control two optical responses in a single-material system by utilizing the material’s phase diagram. This unique combination of material, methods, and results could lead to a paradigm shift in the design of metamaterial devices that manipulate light.
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X-Ray Handedness Reveals Handedness of Electronic Vortices
Electronic vortex structures have been found to emerge from engineered samples of alternating complex-oxide layers. Resonant soft x-ray diffraction (RSXD) studies using circularly polarized x-rays revealed the vortices’ left- and right-handedness. The intriguing results open the door to electrically controllable chiral devices. Read more »
COSMIC Impact: Next-Gen X-Ray Microscopy Platform Now Operational
After a first-year ramp-up for testing and tuning components, COSMIC is now operating at the ALS. The beamline brings together unique capabilities to measure the properties of materials at the nanoscale, and scientific results from its earliest experiments are expected to be published later this year. Read more »
Tuning the Electronic Structure of a 2D Material
The electronic structure of a stacked 2D material was tuned by in situ electron doping, resulting in a large increase in the splitting of two valence bands. Stacked 2D materials possess an array of tunable properties that are expected to be important for future applications in electronics and optics. Read more »
Diamonds From the Deep: Study Suggests Water May Exist in Earth’s Lower Mantle
A new study suggests that water may be more common than expected at extreme depths approaching 400 miles and possibly beyond—within Earth’s lower mantle. The study explored microscopic pockets of a trapped form of crystallized water molecules in a sampling of diamonds from around the world. Read more »
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