Introduction to Muon Spin Spectroscopy

Introduction: the Muon.- Implanting Muons in Matter.- µSR Technique.- Depolarization Functions.- Studying Magnetism with the µSR technique.- µSR in the Superconducting State.- Low Energy Muons: a Tool to Study Thin Films and Heterostructures.- Muonium.- Negative Muons.- Particle and Atomic Physics Aspects.- Annex.- Exercises and Solutions.

Alex Amato obtained his PhD in Physics from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in 1989. Currently, he is leading the Division "Research with Neutrons and Muons" (NUM) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI, Switzerland). He is involved in several international research collaborations in condensed matter with emphasis on novel magnetic (e.g. skyrmions and non-centrosymmetric systems) and superconducting states (Fe-based systems, cuprates and heavy-fermions). He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and has been involved in several panels and scientific review activities. He is an experienced lecturer, currently teaching the course "Physics with Muons" at the University of Zurich, and supervising PhD students and postdocs.




Elvezio Morenzoni obtained his PhD in Physics from the ETH Zurich (Switzerland) in 1981 and his Habilitation in Experimental Physics from the ETH Zurich (Switzerland) in 2000. His researchinterests involve experimental condensed matter physics, in particular superconductivity and magnetism, magnetic and superconducting phenomena in thin films and heterostructures, pressure-induced superconductivity, proximity effects, dilute magnetic semiconductors, and advanced techniques for miSR. He is Adjunct Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Zurich and has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articles in international journals. In 2008 he was awarded with the Yamazaki Prize by the International Society for miSR Spectroscopy (ISMS) for the development of low energy miSR spectroscopy of thin films and heterostructures. During his research activities as head of the Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy (PSI, Switzerland), he taught the course "Physics with Muons" at the ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. He has supervised several master students, PhD students and postdocs.