Thursday 23 January 2025
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how to control the direction of magnetic fields in materials, which could lead to more efficient and powerful devices.
Magnetic fields are used in many technologies, including hard drives, motors, and generators. But controlling their direction is crucial for optimal performance. In some materials, this can be done by applying an electric current or a magnetic field perpendicular to the material’s surface. However, this method has its limitations, as it requires precise control over the currents and fields.
Researchers have been searching for alternative methods to control magnetic fields. One approach involves using a phenomenon called the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). This is a property of certain materials that causes their magnetic moments to align in a specific direction when they are placed near each other.
In recent years, scientists have discovered ways to manipulate the DMI by changing the material’s composition or structure. However, these methods often require complex and precise control over the materials’ properties.
Now, researchers at Spintec, a French research institution, have made a significant breakthrough in controlling magnetic fields using the DMI. They found that by varying the thickness of a thin layer of ferromagnetic metal (such as iron) placed on top of a heavy metal (such as tantalum), they could manipulate the direction of the magnetic field.
The researchers used a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental measurements to study the behavior of the material. They discovered that the DMI energy, which is responsible for aligning the magnetic moments, changes sign when the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer is increased from three to five monolayers.
This finding has important implications for the development of new devices. For example, it could enable the creation of more efficient and powerful motors and generators by controlling the direction of their magnetic fields.
The researchers also found that the DMI energy can be manipulated by changing the oxidation state of the heavy metal layer. This suggests that it may be possible to control the direction of magnetic fields in materials without requiring precise control over the currents or fields.
Overall, this breakthrough has significant potential for advancing our understanding and control of magnetic fields, which could lead to the development of new technologies with improved performance and efficiency.
Cite this article: “Scientists Harness Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction to Control Magnetic Field Direction”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Magnetic Fields, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction, Ferromagnetic Metal, Heavy Metal, Tantalum, Iron, Monolayers, Oxidation State, Motor Efficiency, Device Control
