Researchers at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have demonstrated an innovative method to control magnetism in materials using an energy-efficient electric field.
Researchers at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have demonstrated an innovative method to control magnetism in materials using an energy-efficient electric field. The discovery focuses on materials known as magnetoelectrics, which offer promise for next-generation energy technologies, data storage, energy conversion, and medical devices. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
With AI and data centers demanding more and more energy, scientists are searching for smarter, greener technologies. That’s where magnetoelectric materials come in - special compounds where electric and magnetic properties are linked. This connection lets researchers control magnetism using electric fields, which could pave the way for super-energy-efficient memory and computing devices.
One such magnetoelectric material is the olive-green crystal copper oxyselenide (Cu₂OSeO₃). At low temperatures, the atomic spins arrange themselves into exotic magnetic textures, forming structures such as helices and cones. These patterns are much larger than the underlying atomic lattice and not fixed to its geometry, making them highly tuneable.
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Image: Electric fields deflect the propagation direction of magnetic textures, as revealed by neutron scattering. (Credit: Image: Paul Scherrer Institute / AI-assisted visualisation)
