The development in recent years of ultrashort light sources in the attosecond regime has opened new avenues for the investigation of electronic and nuclear dynamics. In particular, the current development of UV-XUV or UV-X-ray pump-probe schemes with subfemtosecond temporal resolution represents a doorway to study chemical reactions in excited states of molecules in real-time, including biological reactions, such as e.g. those related to DNA damage and mutations. The aim of this project is to understand and ultimately control photochemical reactions in excited states of polyatomic molecules, especially relating to two fundamental processes in biology and chemistry: (i) cis-trans photoisomerization and (ii) the internal conversion of pi-pi*/n-pi* states in organic chromophores. Two top-notch experimental methods will be employed to achieve this goal: attosecond X-ray transient absorption (X-ATAS) at the University of California at Berkeley (United States), where the fellowship will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. S. Leone, and three-color femtosecond pump-probe velocity map imaging (fs-VMI) at Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), where the incoming phase will take place under the supervision of Prof. L. Bañares. The project is divided in three specific objectives and work-packages. Firstly, the powerful X-ATAS method will be employed to observe dynamics in real-time through individual carbon atom spectra and disentangle the dynamics underlying these processes in two polyatomic targets –nitroethylene and transbutadiene– and two bio-relevant ones –thymine and citosine. Secondly, attosecond control in real-time using X-ATAS on the pi-pi*/ n-pi* internal conversion in thymine will be performed in a pioneering experiment. Finally, effective femtosecond control with fs-VMI of these processes in nitroethylene and trans-butadiene, molecules of interest for technologies, will be performed based on the relevant results from the X-ATAS experiments.

In the MAGWIRE project, we will explore the fundamental mechanisms, optimize the performance and upscale the synthetic protocol for the next generation of sustainable high-performance nanocomposite permanent magnets. The project will combine and exploit the key individual expertises of Dr. Matilde Saura Muzquiz (experienced researcher) in the synthesis and structural/magnetic characterization of nanostructured ferrite magnets, and of Prof. Lucas Perez (project supervisor) in the field of nanomagnetism and nanowires synthesis/characterization. The research will build on considerable recent improvements in the performance of strontium hexaferrite magnets achieved through crystal engineering (Ca and Al-doping) and bottom-up nanostructuring (size and morphology control), as well as on promising preliminary results for hexaferrite-nanowire magnetic composites. In MAGWIRE we will develop a novel high-performance exchange-spring nanocomposite magnetic material based on a synergistic nanoscale combination of high-coercivity platelet-shaped Sr1-xCaxFe12-yAlyO19 nanoparticles and high-magnetization FexCo1-x nanowires. The anisotropic shape (plates and wires) of the constituent nanoscale components will drive an inherent self-induced alignment, which will further improve performance. In addition, we will establish scalable synthesis routes based on a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms in play, that will be elucidated by in situ synchrotron X-ray scattering investigations of the nanoplatelet and nanowire formation.