A new kind of magnetism could unlock faster

Scientists have discovered evidence of altermagnetism in a thin, highly tunable material that could help electronics use electron spin instead of relying only on electrical charge. The unusual magnetic state may enable faster, more energy-efficient devices without the unwanted magnetic interference caused by conventional magnets. A new kind of magnetism could unlock faster, more efficient computers.

A new kind of magnetism could unlock faster, more efficient computers Science News from research organizations A new kind of magnetism could unlock faster, more efficient computers A newly identified layered altermagnet could help unlock faster, thinner, and more energy-efficient computers powered by electron spin. Com The computers of the future may rely on more than the electrical charge carried by electrons. Researchers are increasingly interested in another fundamental electron property called spin, which could provide a new way to move and process information inside electronic devices.

Conventional computers use the movement of electrical charge to handle data. If scientists can reliably control electron spin as well, they may be able to develop entirely new approaches to computing that operate faster and consume less energy. A research team led by UCF Professor of Physics Madhab Neupane has now identified a material that could help make that possible.

Neupane and his collaborators found experimental evidence of altermagnetism, a recently recognized form of magnetism that combines useful features associated with two better known magnetic states: ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.