In this new year’s message, Interim Director Andreas Scholl reflects on the last year’s accomplishments, what makes him proud to work at the ALS, and how the community can be involved in shaping the facility’s future. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 444
January 25, 2023
Charge Density Wave Found in Magnetic Kagome Crystal
Researchers discovered a wave-like charge order in a magnetic material with a “kagome” geometric structure and obtained clues to the order’s origins in the material’s electronic structure. By helping to connect certain structures with emergent quantum properties, the work brings us a step closer to the goal of creating materials by design. Read more »
First Direct Measurement of Elusive Donnan Potential
Researchers performed the first direct measurement of the Donnan electrical potential, which arises from an imbalance of charges at membrane-solution interfaces. Considered unmeasurable for over a century, the Donnan potential is relevant to a wide range of fields, from cell biology to energy storage and water desalination. Read more »
Percolating Puddles in Rich Quantum Landscapes
Combining x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) with scanning micro x-ray diffraction (SµXRD), researchers found that charge density wave domains (known as “puddles”) in a nickelate material exhibit two types of dynamics: small puddles actively “percolate” (fluctuate in size and shape), while large puddles are more static. Read more »
Copper Migrates to Surface of Topological Insulator in Air
An ambient-pressure study of a topological insulator doped with copper revealed that the copper atoms, inserted between the material’s layers, migrate to the surface when exposed to air. The work represents a novel way of modifying the material’s surface composition, which can confer it with new properties such as superconductivity. Read more »
Inna Vishik, 2023 Users’ Executive Committee Chair
Inna Vishik began using synchrotrons in graduate school and conducts even more synchrotron research as a professor. As chair of the UEC, she is working to enhance accessibility to this facility—and has suggestions for fun things to do after beamtime, too! Read more »
March 1 Deadline for General User Proposals
The User Office is accepting new General User Proposals (GUPs) from scientists who wish to conduct research at the ALS in the 2023-2 (August–December) cycle. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2023. Applicants are reminded that they may request joint access to the Molecular Foundry, a nanoscience user facility at Berkeley Lab, to support their ALS activities. Read more »
Save the Date: 2023 User Meeting & Visioning Workshops
The 2023 ALS User Meeting & Visioning Workshops will be held as a hybrid event September 11–15, 2023. The User Meeting, chaired by Yu He, Wendy Gu, and Devin Grabner, will take place Monday and Tuesday. The second half of the week will offer users, staff, and invited guests the opportunity to shape the facility’s future through visioning workshops. Read more »
New UEC Members for 2023
Welcome to Aidan Coffey, Whitney Loo, Alexander Baker, Tamas Varga, Leonid Sheps, Sophie Morley, and Devin Grabner. Thank you to Rourav Basak, Yingge Du, Stephanie Gilbert Corder, Eric Meshot, Hope Michelsen, Matthijs van Spronsen, and Johanna Nelson Weker for your service. Read more »
LBNL Cafeteria Has Closed; Other Food Options Are Available
The Berkeley Lab cafeteria has closed to make way for a new welcome center, which will be constructed over the next few years and feature a new cafeteria. In the interim, food trucks, local food delivery, and other options are available. Read more »