Art-Inspired Discovery: The Third Kind of Magnetism

Inspired by M.C. Escher's artwork, physicist Libor Šmejkal predicted and confirmed a third type of magnetism – altermagnetism. Unlike ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, altermagnets have atomic magnetic moments pointing in opposite directions but with a 90-degree rotation, resulting in unique quantum properties. This new magnetism promises to solve challenges in spintronics, leading to more efficient and faster computer memory. Researchers have confirmed altermagnetism in manganese telluride and are exploring more such materials, even predicting a fourth type: antialtermagnetism.