History

History and scientific milestones

From quantum magnetism and magnetic relaxation to nanoscale dynamics, magnetoacoustics, orbitronics and hybrid quantum systems.

A continuous research programme

More than three decades of magnetism at the University of Barcelona

The present GMAG grew from the research activity developed around Javier Tejada from the mid-1990s. The group has evolved through several scientific stages while preserving a continuous interest in magnetic relaxation, high-frequency phenomena and the control of magnetization.

The chronology below combines representative scientific milestones with photographs of the group at different moments in its development.

1995–2000

Origins in quantum magnetism

Quantum tunnelling and magnetic relaxation

The group's early research centred on quantum tunnelling, magnetic relaxation and the low-temperature dynamics of magnetic systems.

Experimental observation of tunnel effects in magnetic systems.
Experimental observation of resonant spin tunnelling in molecular magnets.
Development of a broad experimental programme in molecular magnets and superconducting systems.

2003–2008

Collective quantum phenomena

Superradiance and quantum magnetic deflagration

The research expanded from individual tunnelling events to collective relaxation phenomena in molecular magnets.

First experimental evidence of Dicke superradiance in molecular magnets.
First experimental evidence of quantum magnetic deflagration in manganese-acetate molecular magnets.
Increasing use of microwave methods to probe magnetic dynamics.

The Group of Magnetism at the University of Barcelona in 2007 — **2007.** The Group of Magnetism at the University of Barcelona. Javier Tejada, Antoni García-Santiago, Ferran Macià and Joan Manel Hernàndez appear together with other members of the group at that time.

2007–2014

Expansion and diversification

Deflagration, superconductivity, nanomagnetism and microwaves

The group broadened its activity towards nanostructured materials, superconducting films, magnetic nanoparticles and high-frequency spectroscopy.

Experimental observation of magnetic deflagration in manganites and intermetallic compounds.
Experimental observation of topological magnetic irreversibility and tunnelling at normal–superconducting interfaces.
Microwave studies of magnetic nanoparticles, superconducting systems and nanostructured materials.
Training of a new generation of researchers in low-temperature and high-frequency magnetism.

GMAG members in 2014 — **2014.** Antoni García-Santiago, Ferran Macià and Joan Manel Hernàndez with other members of the group during an intermediate stage between the original team and the present GMAG.

2014–2020

Nanoscale magnetization dynamics

Spin-wave solitons and strain-driven dynamics

The focus shifted progressively towards real-space and time-resolved magnetization dynamics in nanostructures and thin films.

Direct observation and imaging of a spin-wave soliton with p-like symmetry.
Experimental evidence of sub-nanosecond magnetization dynamics driven by strain waves.
Experimental observation of high-amplitude acoustically generated spin waves.
Integration of microwave spectroscopy, transport, X-ray magnetic microscopy and micromagnetic simulation.

Spin waves, localized bullets and droplet-soliton modes — Representative nanomagnetic excitations: spin waves, localized bullets and droplet-soliton states.

XMCD microscopy of magnetoelastic coupling — Magnetoelastic coupling studied through X-ray magnetic microscopy.

Propagating and standing magnetoacoustic waves — Time-resolved propagating and standing magnetoacoustic waves.

2021–present

Present-day GMAG

Magnetoacoustics, angular momentum and quantum magnetic materials

The current programme connects surface acoustic waves, spin and orbital angular momentum, domain-wall dynamics, microwave magnetism, two-dimensional materials and hybrid magnon–phonon–photon systems.

SoundSpin SAW-MRAM MAGO DYNAMAG Random Magnets