Scientists have found a new kind of magnetic material
“Altermagnets” have been hiding in plain sight for 90 years
“Magnets, how do they work?” asked Insane Clown Posse, a hip-hop duo, in their 2009 song “Miracles”. A flurry of recent papers suggests physicists did not quite have the full picture either. A new type of magnetic material may, it seems, have been hiding under their noses.
Most people are familiar with ferromagnets. These have a strong, permanent magnetic field. They are used in everything from fridge magnets and compasses to the motors in electric cars.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline "The altermagnetic alternative"
From the January 27th 2024 edition
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