Unlocking Future Technologies With Magnetic Control of Rare Earth Elements

Laser pulses have been shown to adjust the magnetic properties of rare earths by affecting 4f electrons, opening avenues for quicker and more energy-efficient data storage devices.

The special properties of rare earth magnetic materials are due to the electrons in the 4f shell. Until now, the magnetic properties of 4f electrons were considered almost impossible to control. Now, scientists have shown for the first time that laser pulses can influence 4f electrons — and thus change their magnetic properties. The discovery, which was made through experiments at EuXFEL and FLASH, opens up a new way to data storage with rare earth elements.

Breakthrough in Magnetic Properties Control