Can a Magnet Ever Have Only One Pole?
Electron tornadoes that mimic “magnetic monopoles” emerge from specks of rust
Magnets are notoriously codependent. Try to break apart a magnet’s north and south ends, and each half gets its own fresh set of two poles. Scientists have long hunted for a lone north or south pole—an individual particle carrying solely a positive or negative magnetic charge. Although such “magnetic monopoles” remain elusive, some have begun searching for virtual ones—clusters of electrons that behave like single magnetic charges.
Rather than searching for single particles, “we’re using the creativity card that we have in condensed-matter physics … to redefine new building blocks,” says Mete Atatüre, a physicist at the University of Cambridge. In a study published in Nature Materials, Atatüre and his colleagues have captured the first direct observation of magnetic monopoles that emerge naturally from the collective behavior of electrons. The researchers hope these objects could one day enable a more energy-efficient method for storing computer information.
Electrons in solid materials behave like tiny bar magnets; the strength and orientation of their magnetic fields are defined by a quantum property called spin, which acts like an atomic compass needle. Working in concert, the spins of many neighboring electrons can form particular patterns that appear as isolated regions of positive or negative magnetic charge. For the past 15 years scientists have been hunting for these monopolelike features emerging in various materials but had mustered only indirect evidence.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
In the new study, Atatüre and his team employed a new sensing technique that…
Read the full article here
