Using tunable vacuum ultraviolet light, researchers found that ionizing CO2–water clusters forms new oxygen–oxygen bonds. These findings provide a molecular pathway to understanding how radiation produces peroxide on the icy surfaces of moons, which may shed light on how complex molecules originate.
Read more »
Vertical Voltage Flips Horizontal Polarization in Ferroelectric Material
Researchers showed that a vertical voltage reverses the direction of horizontal polarization of a Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ thin film. This coupled switching removes a key limit of conventional ferroelectrics and enables stable, low-voltage, high-density memory that could cut the energy use of electronics. Read more »
Strain Unlocks Unconventional Magnetism in Ruthenium Dioxide
Researchers saw signs of altermagnetism in thin, strained ruthenium dioxide, previously thought non-magnetic in bulk form. This finding revives the material as a candidate for spintronic devices that could be faster and more energy-efficient than today’s ferromagnet-based electronics. Read more »
Stacking Bits: Layer-Selective Skyrmions Point to 3D Memory
Using element-specific X-rays, researchers discovered skyrmions occupied only alternating layers in a synthetic antiferromagnet, not all layers as expected. The ability to control where and how skyrmion bits form within stacked layers offers a design strategy for 3D memory devices that store more data per volume. Read more »
Accelerator Team Receives DOE Genesis Mission Phase II Funding
DOE’s Genesis Mission awarded Phase II funding to Berkeley Lab’s Multi-Office Accelerator Team (MOAT) to expand its Super Intelligence assistant, first launched at the ALS, helping optimize our facility during ALS-U for thousands of researchers. Read more »