A tiny squeeze dramatically changes the magnetism of exotic materials

This ability could provide a straightforward way to control materials being investigated for advanced electronic technologies.

A Simple Squeeze Reveals Surprising Magnetic Changes To investigate how pressure affects these materials, the ORNL team placed tiny crystals of manganese telluride and iron sulfide between a pair of titanium plates and gently compressed them.

Using neutron diffraction at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source, the scientists examined what happened to the magnetic structures inside the crystals.

The strain also altered an electrical phenomenon called the anomalous Hall effect, providing evidence that the mechanical squeeze influenced the materials' electrical behavior.

The findings highlight how a relatively simple experiment can uncover new ways to manipulate magnetic materials, potentially helping researchers develop the building blocks for future spintronic devices.