New Helmholtz Young Investigator Group at HZB

Felix Büttner has set up a holography chamber at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Felix Büttner has set up a holography chamber at Brookhaven National Laboratory. © privat

Dr. Felix Büttner will establish a Helmholtz Young Investigator Group (YIG) on topological solitons at the HZB beginning in March 2020. Topological solitons occur in magnetic quantum materials and can contribute to extremely energy-efficient switching processes. Büttner wants to develop a new imaging technique at BESSY II to study these quasi-particles.

Dr. Felix Büttner has received funding from the Helmholtz Association following a tough selection process. He will now build up his own research group, a Helmholtz Young Investigator Group (YIG).

Until now, he was doing research as a postdoc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, USA.  Büttner has already distinguished himself with numerous publications in the field of magnetic quantum materials.

At the HZB, he wants to develop a new high-resolution technique at the BESSY II synchrotron source that will enable the imaging of complex magnetic structures under realistic conditions at room temperature.

He will focus on antiferromagnetic topological solitons that occur in certain materials and are considered important candidates for extremely energy-efficient data storage. “There has been little progress in antiferromagnetic soliton research so far due to a lack of high-resolution imaging techniques that can detect antiferromagnetic topological solitons in actual devices”, Büttner explains and adds: “The HZB offers high-tech facilities and expertise in all these areas, making it the perfect place for this ambitious project.

arö

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • Detailed insights at BESSY II into the oxidation processes of copper
    Science Highlight
    02.09.2026
    Detailed insights at BESSY II into the oxidation processes of copper
    Before pure copper oxide builds up, complex superstructures such as ‘29’CuxO, are formed. The new results on the '29' CuxO superstructure have relevance for catalyst research and corrosion protection in the development of safe copper containers for nuclear waste repositories.
  • An important step towards detecting fractons in quantum spin liquids
    Science Highlight
    20.08.2026
    An important step towards detecting fractons in quantum spin liquids
    Following predictions of the existence of fractons in quantum spin liquids by more general gauge field theories, researchers at HZB succeeded in detecting these quasi-particles also in a quantum solid-state model.
  • Hatice Mutlu appointed to the Helmholtz Institute HIPOLE in Jena
    News
    19.08.2026
    Hatice Mutlu appointed to the Helmholtz Institute HIPOLE in Jena
    Prof. Dr Hatice Mutlu is the new professor of sustainable polymer chemistry at HIPOLE Jena, the Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications. On 17 August 2026, she visited the HZB campus in Berlin-Adlershof including the BESSY II lightsource and discussed future collaboration with researchers and the board of directors.