Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order

Leonid Lunin; Martin Borchert; Niklas Schneider; Konstanze Korell; Michael Schneider; Dieter Engel; Stefan Eisebitt; Bastian Pfau; Daniel Schick

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-02088-2

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Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order

Original Articles

- Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order
- Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order
- Light: Science & Applications 2025年14卷第12期页码：4167-4175
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, Max-BornStraße 2A, 12489 Berlin, Germany
  2.Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Author bio：
  
  Bastian Pfau (pfau@mbi-berlin.de)
  Daniel Schick (schick@mbi-berlin.de)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-02088-2
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2024-11-26，
  
  修回：2025-09-30，
  
  录用：2025-10-11，
  
  网络出版：2025-12-02，
  
  纸质出版：2025-12-31
- Accepted：
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Leonid Lunin, Martin Borchert, Niklas Schneider, 等. Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2025,14(12):4167-4175.

Lunin, L. et al. Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 4167-4175 (2025).
Leonid Lunin, Martin Borchert, Niklas Schneider, 等. Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2025,14(12):4167-4175. DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-02088-2.

Lunin, L. et al. Laser-driven resonant soft-X-ray scattering for probing picosecond dynamics of nanometre-scale order. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 4167-4175 (2025). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-02088-2.

摘要

Abstract

X-ray scattering has been an indispensable tool in advancing our understanding of matter

from the first evidence of the crystal lattice to recent discoveries of nuclei’s fastest dynamics. In addition to the lattice

ultrafast resonant elastic scattering of soft X-rays provides a sensitive probe of charge

spin

and orbital order with unparalleled nanometre spatial and femto- to picosecond temporal resolution. However

the full potential of this technique remains largely unexploited due to its high demand on the X-ray source. Only a selected number of instruments at large-scale facilities can deliver the required short-pulsed and wavelength-tunable radiation

rendering laboratory-scale experiments elusive so far. Here

we demonstrate time-resolved X-ray scattering with spectroscopic contrast at a laboratory-based instrument using the soft-X-ray radiation emitted from a laser-driven plasma source. Specifically

we investigate the photo-induced response of magnetic domains emerging in a ferrimagnetic FeGd heterostructure with 9 ps temporal resolution. The achieved sensitivity allows for tracking the reorganisation of the domain network on pico- to nanosecond time scales in great detail. This instrumental development and experimental demonstration break new ground for studying material dynamics in a wide range of laterally ordered systems in a flexible laboratory environment.

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