The journal Science has recognized the discovery of altermagnetism by researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) as a major scientific breakthrough in physics for 2024.
Altermagnetism represents a third class of magnetism, distinct from the well-known ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. In 2019, Professor Jairo Sinova and his team at JGU theoretically predicted altermagnetism, identifying materials for which neighboring magnetic moments are antiparallel yet exhibit spin-polarized currents. This prediction was experimentally confirmed in 2024 using a specialized electron microscope at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY).
The discovery opens new possibilities for data storage and spintronics, as altermagnetic materials can efficiently utilize the magnetic moments of electrons. More than 200 materials are currently known to exhibit altermagnetism, highlighting its potential for technological applications.