Introduction to Muon Spin Spectroscopy

This textbook serves as a comprehensive introduction to muon spin spectroscopy (µSR), offering a detailed exploration of how polarized positive muons can be employed as local probes to investigate material properties at the microscopic level. It provides a self-contained tutorial that begins by explaining the extraction of physical information from a µSR experiment and then proceeds to present illustrative examples in the fields of condensed matter physics, materials science, and nanoscience.
The book focuses on major applications of µSR, including the study of magnetism, superconductivity, and semiconducting materials in both bulk and thin film samples. In addition, two chapters delve into the applications of negative muons, emphasizing their role in elemental materials analysis and introducing fundamental particle physics aspects of muon science. Supplementary material, conveniently summarized in several appendices, covers essential basic concepts.For further exploration, an extensive list of references is provided, enabling readers to deepen their knowledge in specific areas.
To facilitate understanding and mastery of the subject, the textbook offers exercises and solutions. It caters to advanced undergraduate, graduate and PhD level students, researchers who intend to utilize the µSR technique or seek a comprehensive understanding of µSR results for their research, as well as to established practitioners.

Author Biography

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 μSR. 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 μSR Spectroscopy (ISMS) for the development of low energy μSR 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.