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Spatial and Temporal Correlations of XY Macro Spins

Artificial spin-ice structures have become prototypical systems to study vector spin frustration at the microscale and have recently been expanded towards XY spin systems and fundamentally fascinating phase transitions. The illustration depicts the quasi long-range ordered vortex phase in a nano disk honeycomb lattice imaged by magnetization-sensitive photoemission electron microscopy. Read more »

Self‐Assembly of Large‐Area 2D Polycrystalline Transition Metal Carbides for Hydrogen Electrocatalysis

Xining Zang et al. develop a self‐assembly process to synthesize 2D transition metal carbides (TMCs). The metal ions (Mo, Co, W) self‐organize within a gelatin template into a lamellar nanostructure. Subsequent carbonization at moderate temperatures in a reducing atmosphere yields ultrathin 2D‐TMC sheets with high conductivity and rich active sites ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Read more »

ALSNews Reaches the Big 4-0-0!

Congratulations to ALSNews for reaching Volume 400! In 24 years, the ALSNews distribution list has grown from a few hundred subscribers to over 6300 in 49 countries. It has gone through 4 designs and 8 managing editors. Here we provide a short survey for your feedback and describe a bit about how it all began. Read more »

New UEC Members for 2019

Welcome to the new Users’ Executive Committee members for 2019! Emma Anquillare (Student Representative, Boston University and Berkeley Lab), Clemens Heske (UNLV and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), Johanna Nelson Weker (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory), and Antoine Wojdyla (ALS-U) will be joining the UEC in January. Read more »

Toward a Blueprint for Anti-influenza Drugs

Researchers obtained high-resolution structures of several influenza antiviral drug molecules bound to their proton-channel targets in both open and closed conformations. The structures provide an atomic-level blueprint from which to design more effective anti-influenza drugs that can overcome growing drug resistance. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

ALS Staff Honored with Berkeley Lab Director’s Awards

ALS staff were recognized by Berkeley Lab Director Mike Witherell at the annual director’s awards ceremony on November 30. Zahid Hussain received the Berkeley Lab Citation; Ethan Crumlin was recognized for receiving a DOE Early Career Research Award earlier this year, and also received the Director’s Award for Exceptional Early Scientific Career Achievement; Carolyn Larabell received the Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement; and Christine Beavers, Dula Parkinson, Ina Reichel, Tom Scarvie, Doug Taube, and Ashley White received the Director’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in Outreach. Read more »

Magnetic Skyrmions: Current‐Induced Skyrmion Generation through Morphological Thermal Transitions in Chiral Ferromagnetic Heterostructures

Magnetic skyrmions are particle‐like chiral twists of the magnetization that promise advances in spin‐based data storage and logic device applications. In this article, researchers examine current‐induced generation of skyrmions in heavy‐metal/ferromagnet multilayers and show that Joule heat pulses can drive topological transitions in magnetic textures and enable skyrmion creation on nanosecond timescales. Read more »

Cindy Lee, Communications Specialist

Cindy Lee joined the ALS communications group earlier this year. Trained as a molecular biologist and linguist, she’s now using her skills to enhance the workplace culture and broaden the impact of ALS work. Read more »