Near-field imaging though second harmonic generation

One of the objectives of the IMAGeSPIN project is the development of a near-field optical microscope for second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging. In the far field, it is now well established that this non-linear optical technique is an approach that allows the visualization of important magnetic orders for emerging spintronics topics such as antiferromagnetism and teraHertz applications. However, the limitations in spatial resolution of far-field optics restrict the potential of this technique, hence the interest of its extension to the near-field. This tool will thus be an asset for various research axes in spintronics carried out on the Saclay plateau. The main challenge of this part of the IMAGeSPIN project lies in the fact that this technique is not commercialized as such and thus a first part of the project was dedicated to its development (see key dates below). Once this first step has been successfully completed, research is now underway to understand and control multiferroic textures in SHG-SNOM imaging (CEA Saclay/ UMPHy CNRS-Thales collaboration). If successful, the Saclay site will then be equipped with a unique technique that will reinforce the spintronics work of the various groups on the Saclay site.

Key dates