Spintronics
Researchers discover contactless magnetic friction
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Scientists at the University of Konstanz have identified a new type of sliding friction that occurs without physical contact, driven by magnetic interactions. This phenomenon breaks Amontons' law, a 300-year-old physics principle, by showing friction peaks at certain distances rather than increasing steadily with load. The findings appear in Nature Materials.
Scientists at the University of Basel and ETH Zurich have reversed the polarity of a specialized ferromagnet with a focused laser beam, without heating the material. This achievement, detailed in Nature, combines electron interactions, topology, and dynamical control in a single experiment. The method hints at future light-based electronic circuits on chips.
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Researchers at BESSY II have experimentally verified that self-assembled phosphorus chains on a silver surface exhibit truly one-dimensional electronic properties. By separating signals from chains aligned in different directions, the team revealed each chain's distinct one-dimensional electron structure. The findings suggest that increasing chain density could shift the material from semiconductor to metal behavior.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have developed a technique to alter the magnetic properties of materials using laser pulses, effectively transforming one material into another at room temperature. By exciting pairs of magnons in common haematite crystals, the method enables non-thermal control of magnetic states and potential data transmission at terahertz speeds. This breakthrough could allow quantum effects to be studied without extreme cooling.
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Researchers at the University at Buffalo have expanded the truncated Wigner approximation to simulate complex quantum systems on ordinary laptops, bypassing the need for supercomputers. This advancement, detailed in a September study in PRX Quantum, simplifies quantum dynamics for real-world applications. The method targets dissipative spin dynamics, making advanced physics accessible to more scientists.