• Altermagnetism confirmed: a new, once-thought-impossible magnet type.
• Discovered at the Swiss Light Source, it forms a third branch of magnetism.
• Potential for more efficient electronics and game-changing advancements in spintronics.

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled a new type of magnet, challenging previous beliefs about its existence. The phenomenon, named “altermagnetism,” has the potential to revolutionize electronic devices, paving the way for more efficient technology.

Altermagnets now join the ranks of ferromagnets (commonly found on kitchen fridges) and antiferromagnets, identified by physicist Louis Néel in the 1930s, forming a third branch of magnetism. The experimental verification of altermagnetism took place at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) in collaboration with scientists from the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland.

Initially theorized in 2019 by a team at the Institute of Physics in the Czech Republic and the University of Mainz in Germany, altermagnetism has proven to exist in everyday objects. Professor Tomáš Jungwirth from the Institute of Physics at the Czech Academy of Sciences, who led the study, highlighted the “magic” of altermagnets, stating that something once thought impossible is now a reality. Altermagnetism is not confined to obscure materials but can be found in many crystals that people may have in their drawers.

Jungwirth emphasized the potential impact of this discovery, stating, “Now that we have brought it to light, many people around the world will be able to work on it, giving the potential for a broad impact.”

Beyond the implications for next-generation computers and electronics, researchers believe that altermagnetism will enhance our understanding of condensed-matter physics. This newfound knowledge could prove groundbreaking in the field of spintronics, a promising area that leverages the spin state of electrons to carry information, potentially revolutionizing computing.

The details of this groundbreaking research are outlined in a study titled ‘Altermagnetic Lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy,’ published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature on February 14th. The discovery of altermagnetism marks a significant leap forward in the world of magnetism and materials science, opening up new possibilities for technological advancements.

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