Alternating current magnetism is a unique form of magnetic ordering in which small magnetic components align antiparallel to their neighbors, but the structure housing each element is rotated relative to its neighbors. . Professor Peter Wadleigh and colleagues at the University of Nottingham have shown that this new type of magnetism exists and can be controlled with microscopic equipment.
Mapping of alternating current magnetic order vectors in MnTe. Image credit: Amin others., doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08234-x.
Magnetic materials are used in a large portion of long-term computer memory and in the latest generation of microelectronic devices.
Not only is this a large and important industry, but it is also a global source of carbon emissions.
Replacing key components with alternative magnetic materials has the potential to lead to significant increases in speed and efficiency, while significantly reducing dependence on rare and toxic heavy elements required by traditional ferromagnetic technology .
Alternating magnets combine the advantageous properties of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets in a single material.
They are more robust, more energy efficient, and have the potential to increase the speed of microelectronic components and digital memory by a factor of 1,000.
“An alternating current magnet consists of magnetic moments pointing antiparallel to neighboring magnets,” Professor Wadley says.
“But each part of the crystal that hosts these tiny moments is rotated relative to its neighboring parts. It's like a twist on antiferromagnetism. But this subtle difference It has a big impact.”
Dr Oliver Amin, from the University of Nottingham, said: “Our experimental work provides a bridge between theoretical concepts and real-world implementation, and illuminates the path towards the development of alternative magnetic materials for practical application. I look forward to that.”
The new experimental study was conducted at the MAX IV international facility in Sweden.
This facility, which looks like a giant metal donut, is an electron accelerator called a synchrotron that generates X-rays.
A magnetic material is irradiated with X-rays, and the electrons emitted from the surface are detected using a special microscope.
This allows us to generate images of magnetism within materials with small feature resolution down to the nanoscale.
“Being the first to confirm the effects and properties of this promising new class of magnetic materials has been a hugely rewarding and rewarding privilege,” said the University of Nottingham PhD. Student Alfred Dal Din.
team's work Published in a magazine nature.
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OJ Amin others. 2024. Nanoscale imaging and control of alternating current magnetism in MnTe. nature 636, 348-353;doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08234-x
Source: www.sci.news
