Scientists Have Confirmed the Existence of a Third Form of Magnetism – This could change the game.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a63204830/third-form-of-magnetism/
Scientists Have Confirmed the Existence of a Third Form of Magnetism – This could change the game.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a63204830/third-form-of-magnetism/
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From the article
>Scientists have recently crafted and taken images of a novel new [magnetic](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a26344034/sun-magnetic-field-aurora/) substance known as an altermagnetic material. While some discoveries are theorized decades before scientists can finally make or observe them, altermagnetism has arrived in the collective scientific consciousness over just a few years. And now, in a new paper, scientists show that they can tune these materials very precicely in order to create specific directions of magnetism. This work [appears in the peer-reviewed journal *Nature*](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74968X1525083&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41586-024-08234-x&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularmechanics.com%2Fscience%2Fa63204830%2Fthird-form-of-magnetism%2F&xs=1&xcust=%5Butm_source%7C%5Butm_campaign%7C%5Butm_medium%7C%5Bgclid%7C%5Bmsclkid%7C%5Bfbclid%7C%5Brefdomain%7Cwww.reddit.com%5Bcontent_id%7C3bfae47d-0224-4364-8701-0a30dc1491a2%5Bcontent_product_id%7C95fdc80f-c780-499a-af2e-1da3a9fc1e40%5Bproduct_retailer_id%7C53fbff93-05ab-456b-bb4a-b2f27b93ce4d%5Blt%7C%5Baxid%7C7698ada9-de2d-4eda-bbbd-f5d36a32f109%5Boptxid%7C%5Boptvid%7C%5Bofsxid%7Cjam_ab_direct_to_checkout%5Bofsvid%7Cstandard_blocker).
Also from the article
>Nanomaterials in general are of high interest in many fields of research. Quantum computers operate on this level, and still have a ways to go before they’re practical outside of extremely specific and highly controlled lab settings. Altermagnetic materials may also revolutionize a field called spintronics, which refers to the study and optimization of solid state devices—including solid state drives (SSDs) in [computers](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a62954878/non-abelian-anyons-quantum-computer/) and smartphones—that make use of electron spin. While the traditional ferromagnets we use today are fine in many ways, they aren’t ideal, and can introduce a blurring between separated bits of data known as crosstalk.
>On a nano level, everything we store inside our devices is the result of the coordinated action of electrons. If these [materials](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a62720736/carbon-capture-new-material/) could be improved, it could mean higher efficiency, more storage within the same size of material, and less loss when data is accessed. And, the scientists conclude in their paper, altermagnets could help to further the study of practical superconductors and topological materials.
>It seems the future of [electronics](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a63071095/leaftronics-e-waste/) could rely on highly customized spin patterns.
“Altermagnets have a special combination of the arrangement of spins and crystal symmetries. The spins alternate, as in antiferromagnets, resulting in no net magnetization. Yet, rather than simply canceling out, the symmetries give an [electronic band structure](https://phys.org/tags/electronic+band+structure/) with strong spin polarization that flips in direction as you pass through the material’s energy bands—hence the name altermagnets. This results in highly useful properties more resemblant to ferromagnets, as well as some completely new properties.”
[https://phys.org/news/2024-02-altermagnetism-magnetism-broad-implications-technology.html](https://phys.org/news/2024-02-altermagnetism-magnetism-broad-implications-technology.html)
Huh. Interesting
So hear me out. With the bands likely being uniform, and would change in structure and complexity with size and distance. I wonder if any of the sacred geometries will appear out of this.
What has physics ever done for us in the last 70 years?
Besides of lasers… and MRIs… and telecommunications technologies… and blackhole visualization… and this and other fascinating discoveries.
Could this lead to any engineering improvements for things like power generation or magnetic containment?