Envision a material whose magnetic properties and electronic topology can be toggled by exposure to light, paving the way for future electronic devices that do not rely on traditional electrical switching, which wastes energy by producing heat.
Researchers at Monash University have predicted that this kind of switching is possible in the two-dimensional magnetic topological material MnBi₂Te₄, through a type of hybrid light–matter excitation they call magnetophononic polaritons. The study is published in ACS Nano.
"Controlling magnetism and topology with light has long been a challenge in topological quantum materials research. Our calculations show a way to achieve both at once, which could enable ultrafast on–off switching of topological states," said Dr. Enamul Haque, the study's first author, who carried out the work during his Ph.D. at Monash University.
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