Scientists have found that trapping light in certain magnetic materials can significantly improve their intrinsic properties. Their research examined specific sheet magnets that can accommodate energetic excitons, allowing them to independently capture light. The optical interaction of this material with magnetic phenomena is significantly stronger than that of ordinary magnets.
Researchers have found that confining light to certain magnetic materials can significantly improve their properties, enabling a new approach to potential innovations such as magnetic lasers and optically controlled magnetic storage.
Vinod M. at the City College of New York. A groundbreaking study by Menon and his team shows that capturing light in magnetic materials can significantly improve their intrinsic properties. This enhanced photonic interaction between magnets paves the way for innovations in magnetic lasers, magneto-optical storage devices and even new quantum teleportation applications.
As described in his new article published in the journal Aug. 16 the natureMenon and his team studied the properties of sheet magnets that host highly correlated excitons—quasiparticles with particularly strong photonic interactions. As a result, matter is able to capture light – all by itself. As their experiments show, the optical responses of this material to magnetic events are stronger than those of ordinary magnets.
Light trapped in a magnetic crystal can greatly enhance its magneto-optical interaction. Credit: Rezlind Bushati
“As the light bounces back and forth inside the magnet, the interactions are really amplified,” said Dr. Florian Durnberger, first author of the study. “To give an example, when we apply an external magnetic field, the reflectance of near-infrared light changes drastically and the material essentially changes color. This is a very strong magneto-optical response.”
“In general, light does not respond strongly to magnetism,” Menon said. “For this reason, technical applications based on magneto-optical effects often require the implementation of sensitive optical detection systems.”
Jimin Kwan, co-author of the study, commented on how the progress could benefit ordinary people: “Technical applications of magnetic materials are now mostly associated with electromagnetic phenomena. Given these strong interactions between magnetism and light, we can now expect that one day laser magnetism will develop and we can rethink old concepts of optically controlled magnetic memory.
References: Florian Dernberger, Jimin Cowan, Rislind Bochati, Jeffrey M. Dederich, Matthias Florian, Julien Klein, Ksenia Musina, Zdenek Sofer, Xiaodong Xue, Zdenek Sofer, Magnetic Optics in Van der Waals Magnets Shielded by Self-Hybrid Polarities. Kamra, Francisco J. Garcia-Vidal, Andre Alu and Vinod M. Menon, 16 Aug. 2023, Available here. the nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06275-2
Rislind Bushati, a PhD student in Menon’s group, also contributed to the experimental work.
The research, conducted in close collaboration with Andrea Alu and her group at the CUNY Center for Advanced Science Research, is the result of a large international collaboration. Experiments conducted at CCNY and ASRC were complemented by measurements University of Washington Dr. in the collection of Professor Xiaodong Xu. Jeffrey Diederich. Dr. provided theoretical support. Akashdeep Kamra and Professor Francisco J. Garcia Vidal of the Autonomous University of Madrid and Dr. Matthias Florian from the University of Michigan. The materials were developed by UCT Prague professors Zdenek Sofer and Ksenia Mosina, and the project was supervised by Dr. Julian Klein supports Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Work at CCNY was supported by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-Materials Research Division, and the NSF Crest Ideals Center. DarpaGerman Research Foundation.
