Unlocking the Potential of Low-Temperature RSXS Studies at SSRL

Emergent phenomena in quantum materials result from complex interactions between multiple degrees of freedom, such as charge, spin, orbital, and lattice. Resonant soft x-ray scattering (RSXS) has become a powerful tool for unraveling the ordered state and intricate interplay of these degrees of freedom as quantum materials undergo phase transitions. However, the full potential of RSXS advancements at synchrotron x-ray facilities has been somewhat constrained by limitations in achieving low temperatures, particularly those operating below 25 K, leading to a void in RSXS investigations of emergent phenomena. To address this challenge, we have developed a new RSXS capability at beamline 13-3 of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). The new sample manipulator design allows us to cool samples to approximately 10K. In addition, the sample manipulation, even under the low-temperature environment, features a full range of angular sample motion (ϴ from -180° to 180°), wide flipping (χ from +30° to -30°), and azimuthal motion (φ from +90° to -90°). These exceptional capabilities enable us to delve into previously uncharted scientific territories and shed light on emergent phenomena in quantum materials. In this presentation, I will provide a detailed overview of the performance and share some of our preliminary results obtained using this enhanced RSXS capability at BL13-3, SSRL.