Prof. Amir Capua, leading the Spintronics Lab at the Institute of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, emphasized the significance of this breakthrough. "This breakthrough marks a paradigm shift in our understanding of the interaction between light and magnetic materials," he stated. The research shows that the magnetic component of a rapidly oscillating light wave can control magnets, a discovery that could lead to innovative applications in memory technology and sensor design.
The research team, including Benjamin Assouline, a Ph.D. candidate, focused on the magnetic aspect of light, traditionally overshadowed by the faster behavior of light radiation compared to magnetic response. Their unexpected discovery redefines principal physical properties, demonstrating the ability of light's magnetic component to control magnets.
This development holds particular promise for magneto-resistive random-access memory (MRAM) technology. MRAM is a type of memory known for its potential high-speed and durability, and this new understanding could significantly enhance its performance. The integration of light-controlled mechanisms in MRAM represents a fresh approach in memory technology.
Additionally, the team has developed a specialized sensor capable of detecting the magnetic part of light. This novel sensor design is a departure from traditional models and offers increased versatility and potential for integration into various applications. This advancement could revolutionize sensor and circuit designs that utilize light in diverse ways.
The research represents a collaboration of principles from quantum computing and quantum optics with spintronics and magnetism. "We achieved 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," Capua added, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of this research.
Supporting this innovative work were the Israel Science Foundation, the Peter Brojde Center for Innovative Engineering and Computer Science, and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Hebrew University. Their backing underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding and technological development.
The research team's efforts culminate in the application for several patents, signaling the practical and commercial potential of their discoveries. The full details of their study, titled "Helicity-dependent optical control of the magnetization state emerging from the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation," offer a deeper insight into these novel interactions and are accessible in the Physical Review Research journal.
This development from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem not only challenges existing scientific paradigms but also opens new avenues for technological advancements in memory and sensor technologies, indicating a significant step forward in the field of light-magnetism interaction research.
Research Report:Helicity-dependent optical control of the magnetization state emerging from the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation
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