Prof. Dr. Gerhard Grübel

Website: https://photon-science.desy.de/research/research_teams/coherent_x_ray_scattering/index_eng.html

Project B3
The magnetization of materials can be switched on sub-picosecond timescales by ultra-short light pulses. In project B3 we want to spatially resolve the process of ultrafast switching in 3d model spin systems on the nanometre lengthscale and deduce wavevector resolved relaxation times via resonant magnetic X-ray scattering of short-pulse Free Electron Laser (FEL) radiation. Coherent sub-100 fs FEL pulses will allow us to analyze the scattering in terms of higher order correlation functions and thus to unravel also local (transient) symmetries and correlations which will enable us to understand and control the switching of miniscule magnetic domains.