Neutrons have revealed a key to an extraordinary material: the ability to switch from one form of magnetism to another.

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) have used neutron scattering to uncover the origin of an extraordinary material, which can switch from one form of magnetism to another. This discovery could be the key to developing new magnetic materials with enhanced and adjustable magnetic properties.

The material in question, called a “pyrochlore,” is a type of magnetic crystal, which can exist in two different magnetic states. By using a neutron scattering technique called “magnetic diffraction,” the researchers were able to gain insight into the mechanism behind the material’s ability to switch from one state to the other.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Materials, reveal the crucial role of a single particle of iron, which acts as a “switch” between the two magnetic phases. This knowledge could help scientists develop new magnetic materials with enhanced and adjustable properties.

This research is an exciting breakthrough for scientists, as it could lead to the development of new materials with adjustable magnetic properties. Furthermore, it demonstrates the power of neutron scattering to uncover the secrets

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source: Phys.org