Altermagnetic CrSb Breakthrough Redefines Electronic Device Design

Researchers have detected a striking novel behaviour in a class of magnetic material known as altermagnets that could one day revolutionize how we design electronic devices.

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Magnets are a part of our day-to-day lives and play a crucial role in many of the devices we use. Scientists are on the lookout for the discovery of new classes of magnetic materials to improve the functioning of such devices.

Altermagnets are a newly discovered class of magnetic materials that enjoy the best properties of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Unlike regular magnets (ferromagnets), which you can stick to your fridge, or antiferromagnets, which cancel out their own magnetism, altermagnets do not show any net magnetism externally, but deep inside, their electrons behave in ways that can be incredibly useful-especially for futuristic technologies like spintronics (manipulating the spin of electrons instead of their charge).