Challenging Conventional Understanding – Scientists Discover Groundbreaking Connection Between Light and Magnetism

Revolutionizing Light Interaction With Magnetic Materials

New research discovered a groundbreaking connection between light and magnetism, promising revolutionary advancements in light-controlled memory technologies and magnetic sensors. This discovery challenges conventional understanding and could significantly impact data storage and device manufacturing across multiple sectors. Credit: Amir Capua

Recent research conducted at Hebrew University has uncovered a previously unknown connection between light and magnetism. This finding paves the way for the development of ultra-fast memory technologies controlled by light, as well as pioneering sensors capable of detecting the magnetic components of light. This advancement is anticipated to transform data storage practices and the fabrication of devices across multiple sectors.

Professor Amir Capua, head of the Spintronics Lab within the Institute of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, announced a pivotal breakthrough in the realm of light-magnetism interactions. The team’s unexpected discovery reveals a mechanism wherein an optical laser beam controls the magnetic state in solids, promising tangible applications in various industries.

Paradigm Shift in Understanding

“This breakthrough marks a paradigm shift in our understanding of the interaction between light and magnetic materials,” stated Professor Capua. “It paves the way for light-controlled, high-speed memory technology, notably Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), and innovative optical sensor development. In fact, this discovery signals a major leap in our understanding of light-magnetism dynamics.”

Harnessing Optical Beams for Magnetic Recording

Harnessing optical beams for magnetic recording (applications). Credit: Amir Capua

The research challenges conventional thinking by unraveling the overlooked magnetic aspect of light, which typically receives less attention due to the slower response of magnets compared to the rapid behavior of light radiation. Through their investigation, the team unraveled a new understanding: the magnetic component of a rapidly oscillating light wave possesses the capability to control magnets, redefining principle physical relations. Interestingly, an elementary mathematical relation that describes the strength of the interaction was identified and links the amplitude of the magnetic field of light, its frequency, and the energy absorption of the magnetic material.

Quantum Technologies and Magnetic Materials

The discovery is tightly linked to the realm of quantum technologies, and combined principles from two scientific communities that so far had little overlap: “We arrived to this understanding by using principles that are well established within the quantum computing and quantum optics communities but less so in the spintronics and magnetism communities.” The interaction between a magnetic material and radiation is well established when the two are in perfect equilibrium. However, the situation where there is both radiation and a magnetic material that are not in equilibrium has so far been described very partially. This non-equilibrium regime is at the core of quantum optics and quantum computing technologies. From our examination of this non-equilibrium regime in magnetic materials, while borrowing principles from quantum physics, we have underpinned the fundamental understanding that magnets can even respond to the short time scales of the light. Moreover, the interaction turns out to be very significant and efficient. “Our findings can explain a variety of experimental results that have been reported in the last 2-3 decades,” explains Capua.

“This discovery has far-reaching implications, particularly in the domain of data recording using light and nano-magnets,” remarked Professor Capua. “It hints at the potential realization of ultra-fast and energy-efficient optically controlled MRAM, and a seismic shift in information storage and processing across diverse sectors.”

Moreover, in tandem with this discovery, the team introduced a specialized sensor capable of detecting the magnetic part of light. Unlike traditional sensors, this cutting-edge design offers versatility and integration across various applications, potentially revolutionizing sensor and circuit designs utilizing light in diverse ways.

The research was conducted by Mr. Benjamin Assouline, a Ph.D. candidate in the Spintronics Lab, who played a vital role in this groundbreaking discovery. Recognizing the potential impact of their breakthrough, the team has applied for several related patents.

Reference: “Helicity-dependent optical control of the magnetization state emerging from the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation” by Benjamin Assouline and Amir Capua, 3 January 2024, Physical Review Research.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.013012

The research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, Peter Brojde Center for Innovative Engineering and Computer Science, and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

9 Comments on "Challenging Conventional Understanding – Scientists Discover Groundbreaking Connection Between Light and Magnetism"

  1. Very good.
    All things in the world have a common Connection, which is the interaction and balance of topological vortex gravitational fields. Topological vortices exhibit parity conservation, charge conjugation, and time reversal symmetry. Matter and antimatter are mainly manifested between topological vortices and their twin anti vortices, rather than between the high-dimensional spacetime matter formed by their interactions.

    Science must follow mathematical rules. For example, the Standard Model (SM) is considered to be one of the most significant achievements of physics in the 20th century. However, the magnetic moment of μ particle is larger than expected, revealed by a g-2 experiment at Fermilab, suggests that the established theory (such as SM) of fundamental particles is incomplete. Furthermore, the SM omitting gravity, it not involved the time problem and when the particle movement starts. Mathematics is the foundation of science. Physics must respect the scientific nature of mathematics and mathematical models. The SM must be based on mathematical models in order to be scientific, convincing, and in line with natural laws.
    I hope researchers are not fooled by the pseudoscientific theories of the Physical Review Letters (PRL), and hope more people dare to stand up and fight against rampant pseudoscience.
    The so-called academic journals (such as Physical Review Letters, Nature, Science, etc.) firmly believe that two high-dimensional spacetime objects (such as two sets of cobalt-60) rotating in opposite directions can be transformed into two objects that mirror each other, is a typical case of pseudoscience rampant.
    If researchers are really interested in Science and Physics, you can browse https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/643404671 and https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/595280873.

  2. Jerry Normandin | February 11, 2024 at 9:12 am | Reply

    We know that gravity can bend light and time. Perhaps strong magnetic fields not only can affect light, but also affect gravity too.

  3. Somewhere between halogen antigen Zeeman energy transmissions, casimer and auric messameric fields, solar panel conduction inertial spin gravity, we are. I imagine wormholes..

  4. I do wonder how relative this is to Lucifer’s light, genetic memory Dna and the çyamatics and subtle fields that regulate organs and cells

  5. Flagellum motors in the every cell….

  6. Wonder what part of this article got the attention of these commenters, can’t take seriously started laughing. ALOT

  7. David Zarrin kalam | February 11, 2024 at 10:46 pm | Reply

    Gravity does not bend the light I can demonstrate to bend the light around a can of coke Arthur Eddigton and Albert Einstein both made a mistake and this mistake has cost scientists gravely

  8. This article is reporting old news. However, because this old news is from Israel, it is pushed through the propaganda media as “Revolutionary”. This is another “Einstein over Nikola Tesla”.

  9. I’m afraid the authors have overlooked the reaction dampening effects of BDS

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