Scientists discover new form of magnetism

[luxtin]

Considering antiferromagnetism was used to create hard disks this could have many uses in the future i take it.

The new, third form of magnetism has been dubbed quantum spin liquid (QSL) and it behaves very differently indeed.

Within a sparkling, solid crystal that took scientists ten months to create, magnetic "moments" spin and fluctuate constantly, changing their orientation like molecules sliding across one another in a liquid.

This state of flow is something scientists have predicted and aimed to create since the late eighties, but only in recent years did progress accelerate to the point of demonstrating QSL.

So what does this discovery mean for those without a background in theoretical physics?

Well, it's such a fundamental shift in understanding that even the researchers involved can't yet predict the ramifications.

"It may take a long time to translate this very fundamental research into practical applications," said MIT professor of physics Young Lee.

The work could possibly lead to advances in data storage or communications, he said, perhaps using an exotic quantum phenomenon called long-range entanglement, in which two widely separated particles can instantaneously influence each other’s states.

The findings could also bear on research into high-temperature superconductors, which today run MRI machines and mobile phone base stations but could one day enable electric super-trains and smarter power grids.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/technology/...-of-magnetism/

[ddk]

Science is awesome.

[RnR]

Originally Posted by ddk

Science is awesome.

Want flag with this plz

[lithos]

Is it animal?

[PabloEscobar]

Originally Posted by lithos

Is it animal?

Yes... The secret ingredient was love .


I didn't know mobile phone base stations used superconductive materials though. None of the ones I've seen have had to be hooked up to any sort of liquid metal for cooling.

[lithos]

Originally Posted by PabloEscobar

Yes... The secret ingredient was love .

Who's been screwing with this thing?