Nanowerk December 17, 2021
An international team of researchers (USA- Ohio State University, Mexico) used a magnetic microscope to visualize the patterns formed in thin films of manganese germanide. The magnetism in this material follows helices, like the structure of DNA which leads to numerous patterns. The images revealed that in certain parts of the sample, the magnetism at the surface was twisted into a pattern resembling the spikes of a hedgehog, about 50 nanometers in size. The hedgehog patterns could be shifted on the surface with electric currents or inverted with magnetic fields. This foreshadows the reading and writing of magnetic data, potentially using much less energy than currently possible. Although there is enormous potential for these magnetic patterns to allow data storage, according to the researchers there is more research to do before the material could be put into use on a data storage site…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE