MicroPaleomagnetism Short Course

This intensive two-day workshop brings together cutting-edge techniques in quantum diamond microscopy and micromagnetic modelling to advance paleomagnetic research at the particle scale. Designed for researchers and graduate students working in paleomagnetism, environmental magnetism, and archaeomagnetism, the workshop provides hands-on training in state-of-the-art methods for characterizing magnetic remanence in individual particles.

Participants will gain practical experience with both computational modelling approaches and experimental quantum sensing techniques, enabling them to apply these powerful methods to their own paleomagnetic research questions. 

All participants will need to bring their own laptops (Mac, Windows or LINUX) to install MERRILL2, and other meshing and visualisation software. 

Speakers : 

• Wyn Williams, University of Edinburgh
• Lennart de Groot, University of Utrecht
• Karl Fabian, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Ualisson Bellon, University of Edinburgh

Workshop programme

Friday 26 June

Pick-up at Toulouse airport around noon or at Brive-la-Gaillarde train station at 2pm.

Before 15:00 : Check-in, bag drop

15:30 - 18:00 : Session 1. Introduction to Quantum Diamond Microscopy and Micromagnetic Modelling, establishing the theoretical foundations and practical applications of both techniques for studying magnetic domain structures and remanence carriers. 

19:30 - 21:00 : Diner.

Saturday 27 June

7:30 - 9:00 : Breakfast.

9:30 - 12:00 : Session 2. MERRILL2 - Predicting Domain States and effect of Mineralogy and Oxidation, exploring how micromagnetic simulations can predict magnetic domain configurations across different iron oxide and sulphide compositions and oxidation states, e.g. from magnetite to maghemite and through various degrees of maghemitization.

12:30 - 14:00 : Lunch.

14:00 - 17:30 : Session 3. MERRILL2 - Predicting Remanence Stability: Coercivities and Blocking Temperatures, where participants learn to model the stability of magnetic remanence, calculate coercivity spectra, and predict thermal demagnetization behaviour for different grain sizes and compositions. 

19:30 - 21:00 : Diner.

Sunday 28 June

7:30 - 9:00 : Breakfast.

9:30 - 12:30 : Session 4. Quantum Diamond Microscopy: Extracting Paleomagnetic Directions and Intensities, demonstrating how to acquire high-resolution magnetic field maps from individual particles and extract quantitative paleomagnetic information, including directional and paleointensity data, from quantum diamond microscopy measurements.

12:30 - 14:00 : Lunch.

14:00 : End of workshop, continue with conference programme.