Controlling electronics with light
Researchers at EPFL have discovered that by shining different wavelengths of light on a material called magnetite, they can change its state, making it more or less conductive to electricity
Magnetite is the oldest and strongest natural magnet. It is used in electronics and has unique properties that have made it interesting in the field of spintronics – devices that run on the spin of electrons rather than their flow (which is what we know as electrical current). Beyond all that, magnetite has played a crucial role in understanding magnetism, attracting the interest of Einstein and other famous scientists. Its magnetic and electronic properties are studied in biomagnetism, catalysis, and paleomagnetism.
Recently, research on exploiting its out-of-equilibrium switching properties has gained momentum, highlighting its potential for advanced technologies. Magnetite’s rich history and multifaceted applications continue to fascinate and drive scientific discovery.
“Some time ago, we showed that it is possible to induce an inverse phase transition in magnetite,” says physicist Fabrizio Carbone at EPFL. “It’s as if you took water and you could turn it into ice by putting energy into it with a laser. This is counterintuitive, as normally to freeze water you cool it down, which means you remove energy from it.”
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