Multiple Properties of Quantum Materials Probed Simultaneously at Nano Resolution

Researchers at Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego, have used a combination of measurement techniques to simultaneously examine the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of quantum materials. The work was inspired by “multi-messenger” astrophysics, a technique that employs simultaneous measurements from different instruments, including infrared, optical, x-ray, and gravitational-wave telescopes, to deliver a more robust physical picture than would be possible using one form of measurement alone. Using the multi-messenger combination of atomic force microscopy, cryogenic scanning near-field optical microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, and ultrafast laser excitation, the researchers...