Electronic phenomena studied in the nordic countries

The new high resolution soft X-ray RIXS spectrometer at the ESRF: What could you do with it ?

Not scheduled

15m

Max IV Lund

Speaker

Dr Flora Yakhou (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility 71 avenue des Martyrs CS 40220 F-38043 GRENOBLE CEDEX 9 FRANCE)

Description

In the framework of the phase I upgrade of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), a new beamline dedicated to studies with polarised soft X-rays was built. It features in a dedicated branch a very high resolution spectrometer for Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering experiments that started operation in July 2015. RIXS is a powerful photon-in photon-out scattering technique that is element and band selective through a resonant process. It is therefore very well suited for the study of magnetic and electronic excitations in condensed matter. Of fundamental interest for magnetic and electronic phenomena are the L edges of transition metals, the M edges of rare earths and the K edge of oxygen, which all lie within the range of soft X-rays provided by the beamline. In addition to the very high energy resolution (30000 combined resolving power at the Cu L edges), the instrument features a full 4-circle in-vacuum diffractometer with a liquid helium cooled sample stage, the ability to continuously change the spectrometer scattering angle over a wide 100˚ angular range and polarisation analysis of the scattered beam. I will explain the challenges faced for the design and implementation of both the instrument and the dedicated beamline branch and then show with selected examples how the unique features of this instrument can help our scientific users tackle some of the most intriguing aspects of strongly correlated electronic systems. In particular, I will address the complementarity with neutron techniques and the specificity of a resonant x-ray technique, the added value of being able to explore the accessible q-space, and how polarisation analysis can help in separating charge and magnetic contributions and sometime overcome the need for higher resolution.