Akihiko Ikeda

A time-resolved Raman spectroscopy system synchronized with a portable pulsed magnet has been developed. The system generates magnetic fields of up to ∼15 T with a pulse width of 15 ms and enables Raman measurements with millisecond time resolution under high magnetic fields. By combining synchronized triggering, an optimized optical configuration, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, Raman spectra with sufficient signal intensity and energy resolution were obtained within a single magnetic-field pulse. The reliable detection of low-frequency excitations, including both Stokes and anti-Stokes components, was achieved without signal accumulation. As a performance demonstration, measurements of lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ) and barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ) at room temperature clearly resolve soft phonon modes and quasi-elastic scattering. No clear magnetic-field dependence was observed up to 12.9 T within the sensitivity; however, the measurements demonstrate stable, high-sensitivity time-resolved Raman detection with millisecond resolution, establishing single-shot Raman spectroscopy under pulsed high magnetic fields.

We study an extended model to describe the spin-lattice coupling, incorporating individual vibrations of bonds and atomic sites alongside distance-dependent exchange interactions. The proposed spin Hamiltonian can be effectively considered as an interpolation between two well-established minimum models, the bond-phonon model and the site-phonon model. The extended model, which treats bond phonons and site phonons on comparable footing, well reproduces successive field-induced phase transitions as well as the thermodynamic properties of a three-up-one-down state in the pyrochlore-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet, including negative thermal expansion, an enhanced magnetocaloric effect, and a sharp specific-heat peak. The present approach is broadly applicable to various spin models, providing a framework for identifying the primary phonon modes responsible for spin-lattice coupling and for understanding complex magnetic phase diagrams.

The magnetic field is one of the most fundamental control parameters in materials science. A pulsed magnetic-field apparatus can generate high magnetic fields that are inaccessible by conventional dc-field magnets. One important issue is that measurement techniques compatible with pulsed fields are rather limited due to short pulse duration and large electromagnetic or mechanical noise originating from field pulses. The magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), the change in the state of light polarization upon reflection from magnetic materials, has the potential to become a powerful tool for investigation of magnetic properties of a wide range of materials including nontransparent materials or thin films in pulsed fields. Nevertheless, since the MOKE response is typically very small, MOKE measurements under pulsed fields are quite challenging. Here, we present a method to measure polar MOKE under high pulsed magnetic fields of 2-ms pulse width. The keys of this technique are a ferrule-based compact sample-fiber fixture and a phase-resolved numerical lock-in analysis, combined with the high-resolution optical apparatus based on an all-fiber loopless Sagnac interferometer. We succeeded in measuring MOKE signals from various ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic samples above 40 T and down to 77 K, significantly extending the limits of previously reported pulse-field MOKE measurements. Our apparatus is simple enough to be compatible with larger-scale experiments in pulse-field facilities, thus becoming a promising tool to optically investigate material properties in pulsed fields.

In strong magnetic fields beyond 100 T, the significant Zeeman energy competes with the lattice interactions, where a considerable magnetostriction is expected. However, the microscopic observation of the magnetostriction above 100 T has been hindered due to the short pulse duration of microseconds and the coil’s destruction. Here, we report the observation of the giant and anisotropic magnetostriction of ∼ 1 % at 110 T in the spin-controlled crystal β − O 2 by combining the single-shot diffraction of an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) and the newly developed portable 100 T generator (PINK-02). The soft and anisotropic response of β − O 2 should originate in the competing van der Waals force and exchange interaction and also the frustration of spin and lattice on the triangular network. The XFEL experiment above 100 T using PINK-02 enables microscopic investigations on materials’ properties at high magnetic fields, providing insights into how spins contribute to the stability of crystal structures.

The underlying symmetry of the crystal, electronic structure, and magnetic structure manifests itself in the anisotropy of materials' properties, which is a central topic of the present condensed matter research. However, it demands such a considerable effort to fill the explorable space that only a small part has been conquered. We report a vector pulse magnet (VPM) as an alternative experimental technique to control the direction of applied magnetic fields, which may complement the conventional methods with its characteristic features. The VPM combines a conventional pulse magnet and a vector magnet. The VPM can create vector-pulsed magnetic fields and swiftly rotating-pulsed magnetic fields. As a demonstration, the three-dimensional magnetoresistance measurement of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite is carried out using the AC four-probe method at 4.5 K and 6 T. The two-dimensional electronic structure of graphite is visualized in the three-dimensional magnetoresistance data. One can uncover the rotational and time-reversal symmetry of materials using a VPM and a variety of measurement techniques.

This study investigates the influence of Herbig–Haro jets on initiating star formation in dense environments. When molecular clouds are nearing gravitational instability, the impact of a protostellar jet could provide the impetus needed to catalyze star formation. A high-energy-density experiment was carried out at the LULI2000 laser facility, where a supersonic jet generated by a nanosecond laser was used to compress a foam or plastic ball, mimicking the interaction of a Herbig–Haro jet with a molecular cloud. Simulations using the 3D radiation hydrodynamics code TROLL provided comprehensive data for analyzing ball compression and calculating jet characteristics. After applying scaling laws, similarities between stellar and experimental jets were explored. Diagnostic simulations—including density gradient, emission, and X-ray radiographies—showed strong agreement with experimental data. The results of the experiment, supported by simulations, demonstrate that the impact of a protostellar jet on a molecular cloud could reduce the Bonnor–Ebert mass by approximately 9%, thereby initiating collapse.

There is a growing interest in using pulsed high magnetic field as a controlling parameter of physical phenomena in various scientific disciplines, such as condensed matter physics, particle physics, plasma physics, chemistry, and biological studies. We devised a concise and portable pulsed magnetic field generator that produces a 40 T field with a pulse duration of 2 ms. It is assembled using only off-the-shelf components and a homemade coil that leverages small computers, Raspberry Pi, and Python codes. It allows for straightforward modification for general purposes. As working examples, we show representative applications in condensed matter experiments of magnetoresistance, magnetization, and magnetostriction measurements for graphite, NdNi2P2, and NdCo2P2, respectively, with the maximum magnetic field of 41 T and the lowest temperature of 4.2 K.