'Colossal' Magnetic Effect Under Pressure Date: Sunday, June 07, 2009 @ 18:46:14 UTC Topic: Science
(PhysOrg.com) -- Millions of people today carry around
pocket-sized music players capable of holding thousands of songs,
thanks to the discovery 20 years ago of a phenomenon known as the
“giant magnetoresistance effect,” which made it possible to pack more
data onto smaller and smaller hard drives. Now scientists are on the
trail of another phenomenon, called the “colossal magnetoresistance
effect” (CMR) which is up to a thousand times more powerful and could
trigger another revolution in computing technology.
The structure models for F-type and A-type magnetic ordering in
manganite in response to pressure. The arrows inside orbitals indicate
the spin direction of d electrons.
Understanding, and ultimately controlling, this effect and the intricate coupling between electrical conductivity
and magnetism in these materials remains a challenge, however, because
of competing interactions in manganites, the materials in which CMR was
discovered. In the June 12, 2009, issue of the journal Physical Review Letters, a team of researchers report new progress in using high pressure techniques to unravel the subtleties of this coupling...
(PhysOrg.com) -- Millions of people today carry around
pocket-sized music players capable of holding thousands of songs,
thanks to the discovery 20 years ago of a phenomenon known as the
“giant magnetoresistance effect,” which made it possible to pack more
data onto smaller and smaller hard drives. Now scientists are on the
trail of another phenomenon, called the “colossal magnetoresistance
effect” (CMR) which is up to a thousand times more powerful and could
trigger another revolution in computing technology.