Magnetic waves inside a quantum material can hold onto their energy far longer than scientists expected, potentially opening a path toward faster computers that consume less electricity. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) discovered that these microscopic excitations survive for an unusually long time before transferring their energy to the surrounding crystal structure. That delay could provide enough time to perform the logical operations needed for future computing technologies.
Using advanced X-ray techniques, the team tracked how energy moves among electrons, magnetic excitations, and vibrating atoms across extremely short timescales. “We have now investigated the dynamics of these excitations and, in doing so, have been able to reveal in unprecedented detail all important aspects that happen in the material with a microscopic view,” says Hiroki Ueda, who led the project at PSI. “We are particularly interested in the interrelationship between the various excitations in the material,” explains Ueda.
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