SLAC researchers find proof of altermagnetism, a new magnetic phase

SLAC researchers have experimentally proven the existence of altermagnetism, a third type of magnetism that combines properties of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, by demonstrating that manganese telluride exhibits this magnetic phase. This discovery, published in Science, reveals an asymmetric magnetic structure in altermagnetic materials that couldn't be explained by the two previously known forms of magnetism. Altermagnetic materials could enable advanced applications in quantum technologies, memory devices, and data centers.