Probing spectroscopic signatures of mechanically strained nickelate thin films

Pressure-induced superconductivity in nickelates has been associated with changes in interlayer coupling and electronic reconstruction, yet the evolution of low-energy excitations under lattice distortion remains unexplored. Strain is a route for ambient pressure tuning of the ground state properties of these materials. High-resolution RIXS measurements will be performed to probe the magnetic and orbital excitations response to externally applied strain.