Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have developed an approach for precisely measuring changes in the magnetic order of antiferromagnetic materials in real time. Further understanding of these materials could enable electronic devices with speeds orders of magnitude higher.
Researchers around the world are constantly looking for ways to enhance or transcend the capabilities of electronic devices, which seem to be reaching their theoretical limits. Undoubtedly, one of the most important advantages of electronic technology is its speed, which, albeit high, can still be surpassed by orders of magnitude through other approaches that are not yet commercially available.
A possible way of surpassing traditional electronics is through the use of antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials. The electrons of AFM materials spontaneously align themselves in such a way that the overall magnetization of the material is practically zero. In fact, the order of an AFM material can be quantified in what is known as the ‘order parameter’. Recent studies have even shown that the AFM order parameter can be ‘switched’ (that is, change it from one known value to another, really fast) using light or electric currents, which means that AFM materials could become the building blocks of future electronic devices.
However, the dynamics of the order-switching process are not understood because it is very difficult to measure the changes in the AFM order parameter in real time with high resolution. Current approaches rely on measuring only certain phenomena during AFM order switching and trying to obtain the full picture from there, which has proven to be unreliable for understanding other more intricate phenomena in detail. Therefore, a research team lead by Prof. Takuya Satoh from Tokyo Tech and researchers from ETH Zurich, developed a method for thoroughly measuring the changes in the AFM order of an YMnO3 crystal induced through optical excitation (that is, using a laser).
The main problem that the researchers addressed was the alleged “practical impossibility” of discerning between electron dynamics and changes in the AFM order in real time, which are both induced simultaneously when the material is excited to provoke order-parameter switching and when taking measurements. They employed a light-based measuring method called ‘second-harmonic generation’, whose output value is directly related to the AFM order parameter, and combined it with measurements of another light-based phenomenon called the Faraday effect. This effect occurs when a certain type of light or laser is irradiated on magnetically ordered materials; in the case of YMnO3, this effect alters its AFM order parameter in a predictable and well-understood way. This was key to their approach so that they could separate the origin and nature of multiple simultaneous quantum phenomena that affected the measurements of both methods differently.
Combining these two different measurement methods, the researchers managed to fully characterize the changes in the AFM order parameter in real time with ultrafast resolution. “The proposed general approach allows us to access order-parameter dynamics at timescales of less than one trillionth of a second,” states Prof. Satoh. The approach presented is crucial for better understanding the inner workings of antiferromagnetic materials. “Precise and thorough tracking of the variations in the order parameter is indispensable for understanding the complex dynamics occurring during ultrafast switching and other AFM-related phenomena,” explains Prof. Satoh. The tool provided by the researchers should now be exploited to carry out more research and hopefully bring about the development of revolutionary electronic devices with unprecedented speeds.
Learn more: Measuring changes in magnetic order to find ways to transcend conventional electronics
The Latest on: Antiferromagnetic materials
[google_news title=”” keyword=”antiferromagnetic materials” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Antiferromagnetic materials
- 10 Top Materials Stocks Of May 2024on May 2, 2024 at 5:11 am
Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Materials like metal, concrete and chemicals are the foundation of the global economy—every sector requires basic materials ...
- 12 types of roofing materials: Guide to choosing the best ones for youon April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The type of roofing material you select can have a big impact on your home’s appearance, energy efficiency and ability to withstand the elements. In general, asphalt shingles make up the ...
- Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talkon April 25, 2024 at 3:19 pm
The latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET. 1324 ET – Copper futures trading on NYMEX are up 1.1% to $4.535 ...
- Here’s Why a Closed Loop Is Key for an EV Futureon April 22, 2024 at 10:48 am
Redwood Materials expands its battery recycling operations in the US, all aimed at recovering useful metals and materials from scrapped EVs. The company's operations produce 70% less CO2 emissions ...
- 2D materials rotate light polarizationon April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
2D materials rotate light polarization Miniaturized optical isolators Date: April 22, 2024 Source: University of Münster Summary: Physicists have shown that ultra-thin two-dimensional materials ...
- Skyrmions move at record speeds: a step towards the computing of the futureon April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
However, thanks to the use of an antiferromagnetic material as medium, the scientists successfully had the skyrmions move 10 times faster than previously observed. These results, which were published ...
- Skyrmions move at record speeds: A step towards the computing of the futureon April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
However, thanks to the use of an antiferromagnetic material as medium, the scientists successfully had the skyrmions move 10 times faster than previously observed. These results offer new ...
- Materials Supplier Ferguson Seeks Faster Path to Construction Marketon April 10, 2024 at 11:49 am
Competition in the construction-supplies sector is turning into a delivery race. Ferguson, one of the largest plumbing and heating materials distributors in the U.S., is adding three warehouses ...
- 16 Best Materials Stocks To Buy in 2024on April 10, 2024 at 5:56 am
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the 16 Best Materials Stocks To Buy in 2024. For a quick overview of such stocks, read our article 5 Best Materials Stocks To Buy in 2024.
- HKUST and Tsinghua researchers develop mechanism of electrical 180° switching of Néel vectoron April 8, 2024 at 9:02 pm
The team also demonstrated the material's capability to manipulate Néel vector, paving the way for the manufacturing of ultrafast memory devices. Antiferromagnetic spintronics has sparked ...
via Bing News