A new kind of magnetism could unlock faster, more efficient computers
Physicists have identified a material exhibiting 'altermagnetism,' a magnetic state that combines the zero-stray-field benefits of antiferromagnets with the spin-current capabilities of ferromagnets. This discovery could enable the development of faster, more energy-efficient computing hardware.
Why it matters
Altermagnets offer a potential solution to the physical limitations of current electronic components, paving the way for next-generation high-density, low-power computing.
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.
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