{
  "id": 12937211,
  "title": "Liquid-crystal-like magnetism explains puzzling properties in a rare-earth compound",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/liquid-crystal-like-magnetism-explains-puzzling-properties-in-a-rare",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T19:20:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-liquid-crystal-magnetism-puzzling-properties.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers from Rice University have unveiled a perplexing property of a rare-earth compound that defies traditional magnetism. In a study published in Physical Review X, the team led by Pengcheng Dai discovered that in a compound containing ytterbium, the quantum spins behave like molecules in a liquid crystal, favoring a specific direction without forming magnetic order on a larger scale. Spin, a quantum property of particles, essentially turns them into tiny bar magnets with specific orientations. In conventional magnets, these spins align to create overall magnetization, but this order dissipates above a certain temperature, causing spins to point in random directions. While previous research hinted at the existence of an intermediate state called spin nematic state, where spins share a preferred direction without magnetic order, the exact nature of this state remained unclear. To investigate, the researchers examined YbMnBi₂, a compound made from ytterbium, manganese, and bismuth, and a related compound with ytterbium replaced by calcium. By analyzing the behavior of neutrons scattered off the spins in these crystals while varying temperature and magnetic field, they found that as YbMnBi₂ was cooled from 450 K (177°C) to 400 K (260°F), the manganese spins began fluctuating more strongly in certain directions. This effect was absent in the calcium compound, providing strong evidence for a fluctuating spin nematic state. The researchers propose that the heavy ytterbium atoms tightly link the motion of electrons to their spins, creating a twisted spin arrangement that deflects electrons when exposed to a magnetic field. This unique effect, which appears at around room temperature and occurs without magnetic order, could potentially revolutionize spintronics—a technology that carries information using spin instead of electrical charge. With its practical implications and potential for future advancements, this discovery could pave the way for innovative applications in the field.",
  "summary": "In some materials, physical properties don't emerge from their individual particles, but from the collective behavior of their quantum spins. Now, researchers led by Pengcheng Dai at Rice University in the U.S. have discovered that in one compound containing the rare-earth element ytterbium, these spins can behave much like the molecules in a liquid crystal: favoring a certain direction without…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ytterbium compound's quantum spins act like liquid crystal molecules.",
    "Spin nematic state shows direction preference without overall magnetic order.",
    "YbMnBi₂'s electron-manganese interactions create unique electron deflection effect."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}