No abstract

We report small angle neutron scattering of the Skyrmion lattice in MnSi using an experimental setup that minimizes the effects of demagnetizing fields and double scattering. Under these conditions, the Skyrmion lattice displays resolution-limited Gaussian rocking peaks that correspond to a magnetic correlation length in excess of several hundred micrometers. This is consistent with exceptionally well-defined long-range order. We further establish the existence of higher-order scattering, discriminating parasitic double scattering with Renninger scans. The field and temperature dependence of the higher-order scattering arises from an interference effect. It is characteristic for the long-range crystalline nature of the Skyrmion lattice as shown by simple mean-field calculations.

The morphology of the J-aggregates formed after the addition of ionic surfactants into solutions of the 3,3‘-bis(3-carboxypropyl)-5,5‘,6,6‘-tetrachloro-1,1‘-dioctylbenzimidacarbocyanine dye (C8O3) was characterized by absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy, cryogenic temperature transmission electron microscopy, scanning force microscopy, and small-angle neutron scattering. The optical activity of the C8O3 J-aggregates, existing in aqueous solution as superhelices composed of tubular single strands, disappears upon addition of both cationic and anionic surfactants. This is accompanied by distinct spectral changes in the visible region as well as changes of the aggregates' morphology. The anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate induces the formation of single-walled tubules of 15 nm diameter and 300−600 nm length, which completely transform after several days into thick multilamellar tubes of micrometer length. The cationic surfactant trimethyltetradecylammonium bromide first produces vesicles that later transform again into tubular aggregates of nanometer thickness and micrometer length.

Solutions of deuterated poly(ethylene oxide) (d-PEO) in 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), a prototype room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), have been studied at room temperature over a range of polymer concentrations, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), characterizing the conformation of PEO dissolved in RTILs. [bmim][BF4] behaves as a good solvent for d-PEO, which organizes in this solvent in non entangled random coils. These findings will help in optimizing the designing of microemulsions in these potentially environmentally friendly solvents.