{
  "id": 5188021,
  "title": "Trapped light generates nanoscale magnetization",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/trapped-light-generates-nanoscale-magnetization",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-02T22:40:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-generates-nanoscale-magnetization.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cornell researchers have discovered a novel method to generate strong static magnetic fields using light, without the need for external magnets or magnetic materials. By using an engineered metasurface to trap light, the team led by Shivaksh Rawat and Gennady Shvets created a new technique called the \"time interface\" that can convert part of an optical wave's energy into static magnetization. When light encounters a sudden change in the optical properties of the medium, such as a time interface, it produces reflected and transmitted waves, but can also excite a static zero-frequency mode, stopping part of the light's rapidly varying magnetic field and converting it into a stationary magnetic field pattern. The researchers used a 2D metasurface composed of germanium nanostructures to trap mid-infrared light. When the metasurface was illuminated with a short burst of near-infrared photons, it released electrons from the germanium atoms, leaving behind electron holes and free electrons. This rapid generation of electron-hole pairs created a time-dependent change in the light's refractive index, acting as a time interface for the trapped mid-infrared light. The magnetic field produced by this process lasted about 300 femtoseconds, or roughly three 10-trillionths of a second. This new approach is material agnostic, meaning any nonmetallic surface can be used for this technique. The researchers believe their work could advance spintronics, quantum and photonic computing, data storage, and precise control of magnetic environments.",
  "summary": "Using an engineered metasurface that traps light, Cornell researchers have demonstrated a new way to generate strong static magnetic fields without using external magnets or magnetic materials—an approach that could advance spintronics, quantum and photonic computing, and data storage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}