SEK 34 million for research on altermagnetism

A recently discovered form of magnetism could eventually pave the way for faster, more energy-efficient and more reliable electronics. Known as altermagnetism, it combines properties that have previously been difficult to achieve in the same material. In this project, researchers will investigate how altermagnetism can be controlled in extremely small structures. This is an important step towards future applications in areas such as data storage, sensors, computing and quantum technologies.

Magnetism arises from the behaviour of electrons within the atoms of a material and is linked, among other things, to a property known as spin. In simple terms, individual atoms can be thought of as tiny bar magnets. In ordinary magnets, known as ferromagnets, these point in the same direction and create a magnetic field. In antiferromagnets, by contrast, neighbouring “magnets” point in opposite directions. As a result, their magnetic fields cancel each other out.

“Altermagnets work differently. Like antiferromagnets, they do not produce an overall magnetic field. However, due to particular symmetries in the material’s crystal structure, electrons with different spins still behave differently. This gives rise to strong spin-dependent effects that were previously associated mainly with ferromagnetic materials,” says Kimberly Dick Thelander, Professor of Materials Science at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University.

This combination makes altermagnets particularly interesting for spintronics, where electron spin is used to store and process information. Such components could in the future operate faster and consume less energy than today’s electronics. Since altermagnets do not produce a significant external magnetic field, very small components could also be packed closely together without interfering with one another.

So far, research has primarily focused on confirming and understanding altermagnetism through theoretical studies and experiments on bulk materials and thin films. The next challenge is to make the phenomenon useful in practical applications.

“Future applications will require nanoscale altermagnets that can be combined with other materials in advanced structures. We therefore need to understand how their properties are affected by factors such as crystal structure, size and surrounding materials, and how these properties can be controlled,” says Kimberly Dick Thelander.

MAX IV

In the project, the researchers will create three-dimensional nanoscale structures containing altermagnetic materials. With a high degree of precision, they can control how the atoms are arranged and create structures and combinations of materials that are difficult or impossible to achieve in bulk materials. They will then investigate how the altermagnetic properties can be manipulated using electromagnetic fields and mechanical strain.

Studying these extremely small structures requires advanced methods involving X-rays, neutrons, electrons and spin currents. An important part of the work will be carried out at MAX IV, where we have already demonstrated that altermagnetic domains in thin films can be imaged.

The goal is to understand how altermagnetism can be controlled at the nanoscale, thereby laying the foundation for a new generation of faster, more compact and more energy-efficient technologies.

In total five researchers from Lund University have been awarded a combined SEK 149 million in grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. This matches the previous record of five approved applications. 

In total, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is awarding SEK 900 million to 30 research projects that, following evaluations by international experts, have been deemed innovative and at the forefront of international research. The five Lund University researchers are Kimberly Dick Thelander, professor of materials science, Johan Malmström, professor of advanced proteomics mass spectrometry, Vasili Haruyliki, professor of medical biochemistry, Oscar Agertz, associate professor of astrophysics and Emma Sparr, professor of physical chemistry.