Electron microscopes provide fascinating insights into the structure of materials, down to the atomic level. However, their capabilities reach their limits when it comes to investigating quantum mechanical properties, such as spins, with atomic resolution. This is precisely where the research project ‘Advancing Spin Spectroscopy in TEM for Quantum and Materials’ comes in: the aim is to enable spin resonance spectroscopy, i.e. the precise measurement of quantum mechanical magnetic interactions, directly in a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

This would make a technique that combines electron microscopy and spin resonance available for the first time. Until now, no TEM system has been able to integrate methods such as electron spin resonance (ESR) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The team aims to close this gap with the development of a specially adapted sample holder. In future, it should be possible to examine microscopic samples in the TEM while simultaneously visualising their magnetic spin properties.

The project stems from an FWF START Prize and an FWF individual project, in which project manager Philipp Haslinger investigated the fundamentals for this research. From 1 January 2026, the project will receive around 750,000 euros in funding over three years.