Simultaneous Multi-Property Probing During Magneto-Structural Phase Transitions: An Element-Specific and Macroscopic Hysteresis Characterization at ID12 of the ESRF

We present a new instrument for advanced magnetic studies based on the high field X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) end-station developed at the beamline ID12 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France). It offers a unique possibility to measure simultaneously element-specific and macroscopic properties related to magnetic, electronic, and structural degrees of freedom of magnetic materials. Under strictly the same experimental conditions, one can measure the XMCD response, macroscopic magnetization, volume changes, and caloric properties of a magnetic material as a function of magnetic field (up to 17 T) and temperature (5–325 K). To illustrate the performance of this new instrument, we present a case study of an equiatomic FeRh alloy across the first-order magneto-structural transition. This development is the first step toward a new fully dedicated end-station based on a 7 T split-coil superconducting magnet with an additional capability to perform X-ray diffraction experiments.