Author: Alessandra Bellissimo

During spring 2023, Alessandra applied with a challenging project proposal to the Extreme Light Infrastructure specialised on Attosecond Light Pulsed Sources (ELI-ALPS, Szeged – Hungary), which after evaluation got awarded with a 4-week beam time in February 2024. In December 2023, Ali was invited to give a seminar lecture at the ELI User Meeting where she talked about her project objectives, focussing on the various electron dynamics channels available in graphitic surfaces. The workshop focussed on a large variety of scientific subjects, ranging from the Physics & Chemistry of atoms and molecules, to surface science phenomena, extending also towards magnetic and chiral systems, Ali engaged Liza to embark with her on this Hungarian adventure. Ali wanted to show Liza how such big facilities look like and to offer her the possibility to get inspired to possibly apply for a project herself in the proximate future.

We both enjoyed the scientific talks and lab visits at ELI-ALPS and benefited from our networking activities, fostering possible new collaborations. Let us see what 2024 will bring us!

During Summer 2023, at a gathering at the Institute of Applied Physics (TU Wien) Ali learned about the joining of a new professor, who is an expert in both the tailoring of complex 3D magnetic nanomaterials and in the characterization of their physical, optical, and electronic properties. During the welcome reception of Prof. Amalio Fernández-Pacheco, she immediately reached out to him to discuss possible common interests and collaboration perspectives. After a first in-person meeting during August 2023, Ali invited Amalio to one of our iStOMPS seminar to introduce him to the whole consortium, which was held on November 24th, 2023. Liza and Lorenz nicely introduced our iStOMPS project objectives to Amalio, and conversely he told us about all the techniques of fabrication and characterization that he and his team can offer in their laboratories. Our intention is to join forces during 2024, especially in finding out together a suitable procedure to fabricate samples to characterise the strengths of the oscillating magnetic fields obtained at the centre of a tightly-focussed azimuthally polarised beam, as the one created in Liza’s laser setup.

On July, 12th our team enjoyed a beautiful sunny summer day going hiking in one of the last pieces of the original Viennese Woods – that is the Lainzer Tiergarten (or Zoo), located on the outskirts of the city. Equipped with some good sandwiches and a lot of fun and joy, we made a “big round” in this special recreational area. Since Ale lives in Hütteldorf, as a local, she proposed the following route (highlighted below), entailing some nice panoramic view points, such as the “Hubertuswarte” (see first picture below) and the “Kaiserwiese” (second picture).

The Lainzer Zoo offers a unique natural landscape with a wealth of flora and fauna — e.g., there are generally lots of wild boars — as well as cultural-historical exhibitions in the Hermesvilla. In other words, it is a place that offers relaxation, experience in nature and education and, as you can judge from our smiles, our iStOMPS team enjoyed this excursion very much!

Panoravic viewpoint of the “Kaiserwiese”