Chiral multifold fermions in solids exhibit unique band structures and topological properties, making them ideal for exploring fundamental physical phenomena related to nontrivial topology, chirality, and symmetry breaking. However, the challenge of obtaining clean, flat surfaces through cleavage has hindered the investigation of their unique electronic states. In this study, we utilize high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to investigate the low-energy electronic structure of the cleavable single-crystal PdSbSe. Our combined experimental and theoretical analysis reveals the presence of multifold degenerate fermions within this chiral crystal. We also observe multiple chiral Fermi arc surface states and spin-splitting behavior in the associated bulk bands. These findings provide unique insights into chiral, multifold fermionic states in easily cleavable crystals and offer a robust platform for further research into their unique electronic properties and potential applications in novel electronic devices.

Open-shell nanographenes have attracted significant attention due to their structurally tunable spin ground state. While most characterization has been conducted on weakly-interacting substrates such as noble metals, the influence of magnetic surfaces remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate how TbAu2, a rare-earth-element-based surface alloy, affects the magnetic properties of phenalenyl (or [2]triangulene (2T)), the smallest spin-1/2 nanographene. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements reveal a striking contrast: while 2T on Au(111) exhibits a zero-bias Kondo resonance - a hallmark of a spin-1/2 impurity screened by the conduction electrons of the underlying metal - deposition on TbAu2 induces a symmetric splitting of this feature by approximately 20 mV. We attribute this splitting to a strong proximity-induced interaction with the ferromagnetic out-of-plane magnetization of TbAu2. Moreover, our combined experimental and first-principles analysis demonstrates that this interaction is spatially modulated, following the periodicity of the TbAu2 surface superstructure. These findings highlight that TbAu2 serves as a viable platform for stabilizing and probing the magnetic properties of spin-1/2 nanographenes, opening new avenues for the integration of {\pi}-magnetic materials with magnetic substrates.

The large van der Waals gap in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offers an avenue to host external metal atoms that modify the ground state of these 2D materials. Here, we experimentally and theoretically address the charge correlations in a family of intercalated TMDs. While short-range charge fluctuations develop in Co$_{1/3}$TaS$_{2}$ and Fe$_{1/3}$TaS$_{2}$, long-range charge order switches-on in Fe$_{1/3}$NbS$_{2}$ driven by the interplay of magnetic order and lattice degrees of freedom. The magnetoelastic coupling is demonstrated in Fe$_{1/3}$NbS$_{2}$ by the enhancement of the charge modulations upon magnetic field below T$_\mathrm{N}$, although Density Functional Perturbation Theory (DFPT) calculations predict negligible electron(spin)-phonon coupling. Furthermore, we show that Co-intercalated TaS$_2$ displays a kagome-like Fermi surface, hence opening the path to engineer electronic band structures and study the entanglement of spin, charge, and spin-phonon mechanisms in the large family of intercalated TMDs.

The use of exogenous pulmonary surfactant (EPS) to deliver other relevant drugs to the lung is a promising strategy for combined therapy. We evaluated the interaction of polymyxin B (PxB) with clinically used EPS, the poractant alfa Curosurf (PSUR). The effect of PxB on the protein-free model system (MS) composed of four phospholipids (diC16:0PC/16:0-18:1PC/16:0-18:2PC/16:0-18:1PG) was examined in parallel to distinguish the specificity of the composition of PSUR. We used several experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry, small-and wide-angle X-ray scattering, small angle neutron scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and electrophoretic light scattering) to characterize the binding of PxB to both EPS. Electrostatic interactions PxB -EPS are dominant. The results obtained support the concept of cationic PxB molecules lying on the surface of the PSUR bilayer, strengthening the multilamellar structure of the PSUR as derived from SAXS and SANS. A protein-free MS mimics natural EPS well but was found to be less resistant to penetration of PxB into the lipid bilayer. PxB does not affect the gel-to-fluid phase transition temperature Tm of PSUR, while Tm increased by ~ +2 $^\circ$C in MS. The decrease of the thickness of the lipid bilayer (dL) of PSUR upon PxB binding is negligible. The hydrophobic tail of the PxB molecule does not penetrate the bilayer as derived from SANS data analysis and changes in lateral pressure monitored by excimer fluorescence at two depths of the hydrophobic region of the bilayer. Changes in dL of protein-free MS show a biphasic dependence on the adsorbed amount of PxB with a minimum close to the point of electroneutrality of the mixture. Our results do not discourage the concept of a combined treatment with PxBenriched Curosurf. However, the amount of PxB must be carefully assessed (less than 5 wt% relative to the mass of the surfactant) to avoid inversion of the surface charge of the membrane.

Chiral soliton lattices (CSLs) are nontrivial spin textures that emerge from the competition between Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, anisotropy, and magnetic fields. While well established in monoaxial helimagnets, their role in materials with anisotropic, direction-dependent chirality remains poorly understood. Here, we report the direct observation of a tunable transition from $\pi$ to 2$\pi$ soliton lattices in the non-centrosymmetric Heusler compound Mn1.4PtSn. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, resonant elastic X-ray scattering, and micromagnetic simulations, we identify a $\pi$-CSL as the magnetic ground state, in contrast to the expected helical phase, which evolves into a classical 2$\pi$-CSL under increasing out-of-plane magnetic fields. This transition is governed by a delicate interplay between uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostatic interactions, as captured by a double sine-Gordon model. Our analysis not only reveals the microscopic mechanisms stabilizing these soliton lattices but also demonstrates their general relevance to materials with D2d, S4, Cnv, or Cn symmetries. The results establish a broadly applicable framework for understanding magnetic phase diagrams in chiral systems, with implications for soliton-based spintronic devices and topological transport phenomena.

Flat bands can induce strong electron correlation effects that help stabilize both magnetic and superconducting states. Here, we carry out angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to study the electronic structure of the Co-pnictides CaCo$_2$As$_2$ and LaCo$_2$P$_2$. We find that, while the $k_z$ Fermi topology of ferromagnetic LaCo$_2$P$_2$ is markedly 2-dimensional, antiferromagnetic CaCo$_2$As$_2$ develops a 3D Fermi surface described by a $zig-zag$-like band dispersion perpendicular to the Co-As plane. Furthermore, the magnetism is driven by the electronic correlations of the flat bands with $d_{xy}$ and $d_{z^2}$ orbital character at the Fermi level. Our results link the electronic dimensionality and the magnetic order, and emphasize the critical role of the As-As and P-P bond strength along the $c$-direction to understand the electronic band structure and the rich phase diagram of transition metal pnictides.

Control of magnetism through voltage-driven ionic processes (i.e., magneto-ionics) holds potential for next-generation memories and computing. This stems from its non-volatility, flexibility in adjusting the magnitude and speed of magnetic modulation, and energy efficiency. Since magneto-ionics depends on factors like ionic radius and electronegativity, identifying alternative mobile ions is crucial to embrace new phenomena and applications. Here, the feasibility of C as a prospective magneto-ionic ion is investigated in a Fe-C system by electrolyte gating. In contrast to most magneto-ionic systems, Fe-C presents a dual-ion mechanism: Fe and C act as cation and anion, respectively, moving uniformly in opposite directions under an applied electric field. This leads to a 7-fold increase in saturation magnetization with magneto-ionic rates larger than 1 emu cm-3 s-1, and a 25-fold increase in coercivity. Since carbides exhibit minimal cytotoxicity, this introduces a biocompatible dimension to magneto-ionics, paving the way for the convergence of spintronics and biotechnology.

The magnetic properties of van der Waals materials are profoundly influenced by structural defects. The layered antiferromagnet MnPS3 offers a unique opportunity to explore defect-related magnetism, as Mn2+ vacancies can be generated by the intercalation of specific guest molecules. However, the effectiveness of this process in atomically thin flakes and the extent of the magnetic tunability remain unclear. Here, we show that the magnetic properties of MnPS3 can be tailored through the intercalation of different guest molecules. Notably, the insertion of four alkylammonium ions introduces different populations of Mn2+ vacancies, leading to a transition from the pristine antiferromagnetic state to more complex magnetic textures, including a ferrimagnetic state displaying a magnetic saturation of 1 uB/atom. Moreover, we show that the intercalation of few-nm-thick flakes also leads to the emergence of a ferrimagnetic response. This in-flake intercalation, which can be monitored in real time using optical microscopy, can be interrupted before completion, generating lateral heterostructures between pristine and intercalated areas. This approach opens the way to the use of partial intercalation to define regions with distinct magnetic properties within a single flake.

CrI3 is a layered ferromagnetic insulator that has recently attracted enormous interest as it was the first example of a stand-alone monolayer ferromagnet, paving the way towards the study of two-dimensional magnetic materials and their use as building blocks of hybrid van der Waals layered heterostructures. Here we go one step down in the dimensionality ladder and report the synthesis and characterization of a tubular one-dimensional van der Waals heterostructure where CrI3 nanotubes are encapsulated within multiwall carbon nanotubes, integrating a magnetic insulator and a conductor. By means of the capillary filling of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), we obtained single-wall CrI3 nanotubes with diameters ranging between 2 nm and 10 nm, with an average of 5.3 nm. Using aberration corrected electron microscopy in combination with spectroscopic techniques we confirm the structure and chemical composition of the nanotubes. SQUID measurements, combined with element-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) indicate unequivocally that the Cr atoms in encapsulated CrI3 nanotubes are magnetic with a collective state compatible with a radial magnetization state predicted both by first-principles calculations and a model Hamiltonian. Our results represent a step forward in establishing 1D van der Waals heterostructures as a playground for the exploration of non-collinear magnetic states arising from the interplay between magnetic anisotropy and curvature in tubular geometries.

Two-dimensional iron-chalcogenide intercalates display a remarkable correlation of the interlayer spacing with the enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature ($T_c$). In this work, synchrotron x-ray absorption ($XAS$, at Fe and Se K edges) and emission ($XES$) spectroscopies, allow to discuss how the important rise of $T_c$ (44 K) in the molecule intercalated $\rm Li_x(C_5H_5N)_yFe_{2-z}Se_2$ relates to the electronic and local structure changes felt by the inorganic host upon doping ($x$). $XES$ shows that widely-separated layers of edge-sharing $\rm FeSe_4$ tetrahedra, carry low-spin moieties with a local Fe magnetic moment slightly reduced compared to the parent $\beta$-$\rm Fe_{2-z}Se_2$. Pre-edge $XAS$ advises on the progressively reduced mixing of metal $3d-4p$ states upon lithiation. Doping-mediated local lattice modifications, probed by conventional $T_c$-optimization measures (cf. anion height and $FeSe_4$ tetrahedra regularity), become less relevant when layers are spaced far away. On the basis of extended x-ray absorption fine structure, such distortions are compensated by a softer Fe-network that relates to Fe-site vacancies, alleviating electron-lattice correlations and superconductivity. Density functional theory ($DFT$) guided modification of isolated $\rm Fe_{2-z}Se_2$ ($z$, vacant sites) planes, resembling the host layers, identify that Fe-site deficiency occurs at low energy cost, giving rise to stretched Fe-sheets, in accord with experiments. The robust high-$T_c$ in $\rm Li_x(C_5H_5N)_yFe_{2-z}Se_2$, arises from the interplay of electron donating spacers and the iron-selenide layers tolerance to defect chemistry, a tool to favorably tune its Fermi surface properties.

Correlated phenomena occur in quantum materials because of the delicate interplay between internal degrees of freedom, leading to multiple symmetry-broken quantum phases. Resolving the structure of these phases is a key challenge, often requiring facilities equipped with x-ray free-electron lasers and electron sources that may not be readily accessible to the average user. Table-top sources that offer alternative means are therefore needed. In this work, we present an all-optical, table-top setup that enables symmetry-resolved studies using linear and nonlinear spectroscopies. We demonstrate the versatility of the setup with chosen examples that underscore the importance of tracking symmetries and showcase the strengths of the setup, which offers a large tunable parameter space.

Magnetic vector tomography allows for visualizing the 3D magnetization vector of magnetic nanostructures and multilayers with nanometric resolution. In this work, we present MARTApp (Magnetic Analysis and Reconstruction of Tomographies Application), a software designed to analyze the images obtained from a full-field or scanning transmission X-ray microscope and reconstruct the 3D magnetization of the sample. Here, its workflow and main features are described. Moreover, a synthetic test sample consisting of a hopfion is used to exemplify the workflow from raw images to the final 3D magnetization reconstruction.

The interaction between surface acoustic waves and magnetization offers an efficient route for electrically controlling magnetic states. Here, we demonstrate the excitation of magnetoacoustic waves in galfenol, a highly magnetostrictive alloy made of iron (72%) and gallium (28%). We quantify the amplitude of the induced magnetization oscillations using magnetic imaging in an X-ray photoelectron microscope and estimate the dynamic magnetoelastic constants through micromagnetic simulations. Our findings demonstrate the potential of galfenol for magnonic applications and reveal that, despite strong magnetoelastic coupling, magnetic interactions and spin-wave dispersion relations significantly influence the overall amplitude of magnetoacoustic waves.

Chirality in tellurium derives from a Peierls distortion driven by strong electron-phonon coupling, making this material a unique candidate for observing a light-induced topological phase transition. By using time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (trARPES), we reveal that upon near-infrared photoexcitation the Peierls gap is modulated by displacively excited coherent phonons with $\mathrm{A_{1g}}$ symmetry as well as chiral-symmetry-breaking $\mathrm{E'_{LO}}$ modes. By comparison with state-of-the-art TDDFT+U calculations, we reveal the microscopic origin of the in-phase oscillations of band edges, due to phonon-induced modulation of the effective Hubbard $U$ term.

The recent realizations of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ and MnBi$_4$Te$_7$ benchmark the (MnBi$_2$Te$_4$)(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$ family as a promising hotbed for further QAHE improvements. The family owes its potential to its ferromagnetically (FM) ordered MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ septuple layers (SL). However, the QAHE realization is complicated in MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ and MnBi$_4$Te$_7$ due to the substantial antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling between the SL. An FM state, advantageous for the QAHE, can be stabilized by interlacing the SL with an increasing number $n$ of Bi$_2$Te$_3$ layers. However, the mechanisms driving the FM state and the number of necessary QLs are not understood, and the surface magnetism remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate robust FM properties in MnBi$_6$Te$_{10}$ ($n = 2$) with$T_C \approx 12$ K and establish their origin in the Mn/Bi intermixing phenomenon by a combined experimental and theoretical study. Our measurements reveal a magnetically intact surface with a large magnetic moment, and with FM properties similar to the bulk. Our investigation thus consolidates the MnBi$_6$Te$_{10}$ system as perspective for the QAHE at elevated temperatures.

Compensated magnets are of increasing interest for both fundamental research and applications, with their net-zero magnetization leading to ultrafast dynamics and robust order. To understand and control this order, nanoscale mapping of local domain structures is necessary. One of the main routes to mapping antiferromagnetic order is X-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD), which probes the local orientation of the N\'eel vector. However, XMLD imaging typically suffers from weak contrast and has mainly been limited to surface-sensitive techniques. Here, we harness coherent diffractive imaging to map the complex XMLD spectroscopically, and identify the phase linear dichroism as a high-contrast, high-resolution mechanism for imaging magnetic order. By applying X-ray spectroptychography to a model sample, we retrieve the full complex XMLD spectrum. Combining this with hierarchical clustering, we resolve the spatial distribution of probed domains by their distinct spectral signatures, providing a robust method for analyzing magnetic configurations with weak signals. Our results show that phase contrast is significantly stronger than the corresponding absorption contrast, offering higher spatial-resolution magnetic imaging. This approach establishes a reliable, element- and orbital-sensitive tool for studying compensated magnets.

Voltage control of magnetism via magneto-ionics, where ion transport and/or redox processes drive magnetic modulation, holds great promise for next-generation memories and computing. This stems from its non-volatility and ability to precisely tune both the magnitude and speed of magnetic properties in an energy-efficient manner. However, expanding magneto-ionics to incorporate novel mobile ions or even multiple ion species is crucial for unlocking new phenomena and enabling multifunctional capabilities. Here, we demonstrate voltage-driven multi-ion transport in a FeBO system with increasing oxygen content, progressively transitioning from an electrostatic-like response to a more pronounced electrochemical (magneto-ionic) behavior. The voltage-driven transport of both B and Fe is activated by oxidation state tuning, owing to the larger electronegativity of oxygen. Such charge-transfer effects allow multi-ion magneto-ionics, where O ions move oppositely to Fe and B ions. These results pave the way for programmable functionalities by leveraging elements with different electron affinities through charge-transfer engineering.

Information can be stored in magnetic materials by encoding with the direction of the magnetic moment of elements. A figure of merit for these systems is the energy needed to change the information rewrite the storage by changing the magnetic moment. Organic molecules offer a playground to manipulate spin order, with metallo molecular interfaces being a promising direction for sustainable devices. Here, we demonstrate a spin reorientation transition in molecular interfaces of high magnetisation 3d ferromagnetic films due to a competition between a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) induced by a heavy metal that dominates at high temperatures, and an in-plane anisotropy generated by molecular coupling at low temperatures. The transition can be tuned around room temperature by varying the ferromagnet thickness (1.4 to 1.9 nm) or the choice of molecular overlayer, with the organic molecules being C60, hydrogen and metal (Cu, Co) phthalocyanines. Near the transition temperature, the magnetisation easy axis can be switched with a small energy input, either electrically with a current density of 10^5 A per cm2, or optically by a fs laser pulse of fluence as low as 0.12 mJ per cm2, suggesting heat assisted technology applications. Magnetic dichroism measurements point toward a phase transition at the organic interface being responsible for the spin reorientation transition.

The chiral magnetoelectric insulator Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ hosts a rich and anisotropic magnetic phase diagram that includes helical, conical, field-polarized, tilted conical, and skyrmion lattice phases. Using resonant elastic x-ray scattering (REXS), we uncover a new spiral state confined to the surface of Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$. This surface-confined spiral state (SSS) displays a real-space pitch of $\sim$120 nm, which remarkably is twice the length of the incommensurate structures observed to-date in Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$. The SSS phase emerges at temperatures below 30~K when the magnetic field is applied near the $\langle110\rangle$ crystallographic axis. Its surface localization is demonstrated through a combination of REXS in reflection and transmission geometries, with complementary small-angle neutron scattering measurements suggesting its absence from the bulk. We attribute the stabilization of the SSS to competing anisotropic interactions at the crystal surface. The discovery of a robust, surface-confined spiral paves the way for engineering energy-efficient, nanoscale spin-texture platforms for next-generation devices.

Photoexcitation of single-layered La$_{0.5}$Mn$_{1.5}$MnO$_4$ has played a key role in understanding orbital ordering and non-thermal states in the manganites. However, while orbital ordering in La$_{0.5}$Sr$_{1.5}$MnO$_4$ breaks the in-plane C$_4$ symmetry, many layered manganites show much more complex phase diagrams in which orbital ordering emerges from an already symmetry-broken high-temperature phase and also exhibit additional low-temperature phases. In this work, we examine the role of these phases in relation to orbital ordering in the single-layered manganite Pr$_{0.5}$Ca$_{1.5}$MnO$_4$ with a combination of optical reflection anisotropy and ultrafast broadband pump-probe spectroscopy. We find that the reflection anisotropy, measured in equilibrium, is strongly sensitive to charge and orbital-ordering transition only. However, the ultrafast response, measuring the non-equilibrium state is sensitive to all phases. In particular, we deduce that coherent phonons modulate unoccupied electronic states that are sensitive to the different phases of the material. This gives rise to a non-linear scaling of the phonon signal with pump fluence at specific probe wavelengths.