antiferomagnety

When Spins Take the Stage: Libor Šmejkal's Triumph at the Falling Walls Award

"A scientific discovery has no merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.” This quote by Nobel laureate Ernest Rutherford could be applied to the recent achievements of Libor Šmejkal. He was selected from hundreds of nominated scientists to be awarded the Breakthrough Scientific Discovery of the Year 2023 title in the Falling Walls competition for his theoretical work on altermagnetism and non-dissipative nanoelectronics. He was able to explain his discoveries to the general public by comparing a new form of magnetism to the dance of swans. His scientific career illustrates the importance of the role of teachers and mentors and symbolises a commitment to discovery and contribution to scientific knowledge.

Awards
Libor Šmejkal získal v soutěži Falling Walls ocenění Science Breakthrough of the Year 2023

Young Czech physicist breaks with conventional wisdom inherited from George Ohm, Edwin Hall and Louis Néel

In a paper published in Science Advances, Libor Šmejkal with his colleagues from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague reports the discovery of a Hall effect in an antiferromagnet. It is another extraordinary work by an exceptional Czech talent who as a fresh PhD graduate already enjoys the reputation of an internationally leading figure in his field.

Research
Nalevo – Hallův jev ve vnějším magnetickém poli působícím na krystal obsahující nemagnetické atomy. Uprostřed – Hallův jev ve feromagnetu, modrý symbol znázorňuje rušivé magnetické pole feromagnetu. Napravo – antiferomagnetický Hallův jev v krystalu obsahujícím antiferomagnetické a nemagnetické atomy. Střední řádek: Nalevo – Běžný proud v krystalu obsahujícím pouze nemagnetické atomy. Napravo – Stejné jako nalevo v krystalu obsahujícím pouze antiferomagnetické atomy. Spodní řádek demonstruje unikátní funkci

New Concept for Digital Data Storage

An antiferromagnetic advantage is a speed by which information can be written in their memories. Plus the information stored by antiferromagnetic materials cannot be accidentally wiped even by large magnetic fields.

Research
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Magnetic inside but not on outside: Researchers from the Institute of Physics introduce antiferromagnetic memories

Researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with researchers from Berkeley and Barcelona, have demonstrated that it is possible to use another type of magnetic materials, the so-called antiferromagnets to store information. Antiferromagnetic materials are magnetic inside, however, their microscopic magnetic moments sitting on individual atoms alternate between two opposite orientations.

Research
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