For the first time in almost a century, physicists have discovered an entirely new type of magnetic material.
Dive into any physics textbook, and you’ll find magnetic materials divided into two main categories: ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Ferromagnets are the more familiar type, known for their ability to hold notes on a fridge or guide a compass needle north, thanks to their magnetic fields. Antiferromagnets, while lacking external magnetic fields, possess unique magnetic properties.
This longstanding duo has now expanded into a trio with the identification of a new class of magnetic materials known as altermagnets, which could pave the way for faster, more efficient computer hard drives.
