Researchers at the Max Born Institute in Berlin have successfully conducted X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) experiments in a laser laboratory for the first time. This technique is vital for understanding magnetic materials and their structures, which play essential roles in technologies like data storage and sensors. XMCD utilizes circularly polarized soft X-ray light to analyze magnetic order within ferromagnetic materials by observing differences in light transmission based on the alignment of electron spins.
Traditionally, XMCD experiments required large-scale facilities, limiting accessibility. This breakthrough allows for the investigation of magnetic materials outside of these facilities. The researchers generated the necessary soft X-ray light using a laser-driven plasma source, creating X-rays in the spectral range of 200 to 2000 eV. However, because the generated light was initially random in polarization, the team employed a magnetic polarization filter to achieve the required circular polarization before conducting the XMCD experiment.
With this advancement, the research opens possibilities for studying ultrafast magnetization processes on a picosecond scale and indicates that laser-based X-ray sources can compete with conventional large-scale facilities, offering greater flexibility and potential for enhanced insight into magnetic phenomena.
