Uranium compound known since the 1960s reveals hidden spiral structure with unusual magnetic properties
A University of Texas at Dallas scientist and her colleagues have discovered an unusual atomic pattern in a uranium-based material that gives it a rare combination of magnetic properties, a finding that could open new pathways for designing advanced electronic and computer memory devices.
In a discovery published in Nature, a team of researchers led by Dr. Mengke Liu of the University of Texas at Dallas has identified an unusual atomic pattern in a uranium-based material called uranium oxytelluride (UOTe). This pattern, a chiral superlattice, has revealed a rare combination of magnetic properties - both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic characteristics.
The discovery was made using advanced imaging techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. Ferromagnets are magnetic, while antiferromagnets have a net magnetization of zero. The unique atomic organization of UOTe is believed to be a key factor influencing electron transport. This finding could potentially revolutionize magnetic computer memory technologies, making memory devices faster and more robust due to the material's resistance to external magnetic field perturbations.
The researchers also suggest that hundreds of related compounds might harbor similar superlattice structures, opening up new avenues for exploring unusual material properties.
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