New phase of matter discovered in magnetic material

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered a new phase of matter in a magnetic material. This phase is called "half ice, half fire" and is unique because it features a mix of ordered and disordered electron spins. The research focuses on a type of magnetic material known as a ferrimagnet. In this new phase, scientists found a pattern of electron spins that could quickly change states under certain temperatures. This discovery may have potential applications in energy and information technology. The researchers, Weiguo Yin and Alexei Tsvelik, published their findings in the journal Physical Review Letters. They believe that understanding such new phases can lead to advancements in areas like quantum computing and spintronics. The "half ice, half fire" phase is related to a previously discovered state called "half-fire, half-ice." Both phases stem from ongoing research that began in 2012 when Yin and Tsvelik studied a magnetic compound made of strontium, copper, iridium, and oxygen. Their findings show that the hot spins in the "half fire, half ice" phase can switch places with the cold spins, creating the new "half ice, half fire" state. This process occurs within a very narrow temperature range, which the researchers believe could be useful for future technologies, such as refrigeration and quantum information storage. Yin plans to continue exploring this phenomenon in different systems, opening up new possibilities for scientific discovery.