Nanoscale polarization transient gratings
Light manipulation at the nanoscale is essential both for fundamental science and modern technology. The quest to shorter lengthscales, however, requires the use of light wavelengths beyond the visible. In particular, in the extreme ultraviolet regime these manipulation capabilities are hampered by the lack of efficient optics, especially for polarization control. Here, we present a method to create periodic, polarization modulations at the nanoscale using a tailored configuration of the FERMI free electron laser and demonstrate its capabilities by comparing the dynamics induced by this polarization transient grating with those driven by a conventional intensity grating on a thin ferrimagnetic alloy. While the intensity grating signal is dominated by the thermoelastic response, the polarization grating excitation minimizes it, uncovering helicity-dependent responses previously undetected. We anticipate nanoscale polarization transient gratings to become useful for the study of physical, chemical and biological systems possessing chiral symmetry.
Authors
- Clemens von Korff Schmising (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3159-3489)
- Danny Fainozzi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7380-8324)
- Ezio Iacocca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8870-5106)
- Kelvin Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4335-113X)
- Primož Rebernik Ribič (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5555-601X)
- Francesco Armillotta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7247-6428)
- G. Penco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4900-6513)
- Filippo Bencivenga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3929-5101)
- Laura Foglia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2218-3886)
- Giovanni Perosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3639-2504)
- L. Giannessi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7643-9840)
- Björn Wehinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7089-595X)
- M. Trovò (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3630-4597)
- G. De Ninno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4648-4413)
- W. Engel
- Denny Puntel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-2570)
- Dario De Angelis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9199-6373)
- Simone Laterza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8971-6608)
- Filippo Sottocorona (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9160-9289)
- Jacopo Stefano Pelli Cresi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6437-7411)
- Riccardo Mincigrucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6343-6256)
- Stefano Bonetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9352-2411)
- Riccardo Cucini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8516-1409)
- Ettore Paltanin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8490-5884)
- E. Allaria (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9570-6361)
- C. Masciovecchio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8571-3522)
- Nupur N. Khatu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4970-0549)
- Alexander Darius Brynes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2343-7566)
- Matthew Copus
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- University of Trieste (IT)
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (IT)
- University of Nova Gorica (SI)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (FR)
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. (IT)
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IT)
- Max-Born-Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (DE)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (IT)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (US)
- European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-12-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54799-6
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Optical Coatings and Gratings
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.54
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale
- Basic Energy Sciences