New quantum magnet promises applications in robotics

Materials whose elasticity can be tuned have the potential to lead to highly flexible chips.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Plasma and Fusion Science Center (PSFC) led by Hangu Chui and colleagues have recently made a new breakthrough in the well-known quantum magnet technology.

While at first glance it seems that this task is not so complicated, this research has led to the recognition of new applications of materials. Magnets (as well as the concept of electromagnetism itself) are the basis and foundation of all computing devices, and for this reason, advances in the basis of magnetic materials promise to have a profound effect on the development and control of these fundamental forces.
By using quantum effects, researchers were able to control Hall Effect and Berry curvature, both of which are obstacles in basic physics, in a way that is usable and useful for us. The new article of this research team has been published in the highly respected journal Nature and has led to our understanding of the use of chromium telluride for the beneficial use of the two effects mentioned to increase productivity and efficiency. To answer the question in which areas this development is effective, it can be said in any area where magnets are important, such as: computing, electronics and robotics areas.

The Hall effect refers to a discovery made by 23-year-old Edwin Hall in 1879. Hall found that placing a magnet at right angles to a vertical metal strip with a current flowing through it deflected the current to the opposite side of the metal sheet. (Remember that electric current is the regular movement of free electrons.)

This asymmetric difference in electric current became known as the Hall effect. But with the help of quantum mechanics, we can take advantage of this asymmetric behavior. If we consider quantum mechanics in such a way that it opens a way for us to look at this effect at the level of particle physics, it allows us to understand the existing conditions and then influence it.

At this moment, the application of the quantum concept of the Berry bend comes in: in quantum physics, this effect is used for the natural deflection of electric current (almost what the Hall effect does), with the difference that it is called the unusual Hall effect since it does not require a magnetic field. It turns out that this effect can be used to control the electric current much more optimally.
The result of this research has led to a material that exhibits the unusual Hall effect even when compressed and promises great potential for use in the field of flexible electronics.

Source: Tom’s Hardware