SFB/TRR 173 SPIN+X

Altermagnets - a new kind of magnetic material

Schematic representation of an altermagnet with rotating atoms and spin flip
In altermagnets, neighboring atoms are rotated and their magnetic spins are flipped. Photo by L. Šmejkal and Anna Birk Hellenes

A team of scientists led by physics professor Dr. Jairo Sinova has recently discovered evidence for a completely new class of magnetism that exhibits characteristics of both conventional types, ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.

The research results were published in the prestigious journal Nature: "Altermagnetic lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy", doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06907-7

The equally renowned journal Science devoted a detailed article to the research into altermagnetism: "Researchers discover new kind of magnetism", doi: 10.1126/science.zfm15wx

Another publication on this research topic in The Economist reflects the broad interest within the scientific community: "Scientists have found a new kind of magnetic material"

For further information:
Prof. Dr. Jairo Sinova
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Phone: +49 6131 39 23340
E-mail: sinova[at]uni-mainz.de

Schematic representation of an altermagnet with rotating atoms and spin flip
In altermagnets, neighboring atoms are rotated and their magnetic spins are flipped. Photo by L. Šmejkal and Anna Birk Hellenes