New kind of magnetism discovered: 'quantum spin liquid'

New kind of magnetism discovered: Experiments demonstrate 'quantum spin liquid'
(phys.org)

Following up on earlier theoretical predictions, MIT researchers have now demonstrated experimentally the existence of a fundamentally new kind of magnetic behavior, adding to the two previously known states of magnetism.

"We're showing that there is a third fundamental state for magnetism," says MIT professor of physics Young Lee. The experimental work showing the existence of this new state, called a quantum spin liquid (QSL), is reported this week in the journal Nature, with Lee as the senior author and Tianheng Han, who earned his PhD in physics at MIT earlier this year, as lead author.

The QSL is a solid crystal, but its magnetic state is described as liquid: Unlike the other two kinds of magnetism, the magnetic orientations of the individual particles within it fluctuate constantly, resembling the constant motion of molecules within a true liquid.

There's a second article on this topic at Phys.org as well;

For newly discovered 'quantum spin liquid', the beauty is in its simplicity

(Phys.org)—A research team including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has confirmed long-standing suspicions among physicists that electrons in a crystalline structure called a kagome (kah-go-may) lattice can form a "spin liquid," a novel quantum state of matter in which the electrons' magnetic orientation remains in a constant state of change.

See also:
MIT discovers a new state of matter, a new kind of magnetism
(extremetech.com)

New Kind of Magnetism Discovered: Experiments Demonstrate ‘quantum Spin Liquid'
(sciencedaily.com)

These 'strong interactions (between electrons of this newly created crystal matter) allow for long-range quantum entanglement' (according to Lee), which is where two electrons (an entangled pair) will vibrate in concert even when separated across large distances - as I read it, particles on one side of the crystal affected the magnetic moment of particles on the other side instantaneously, and always in a state of flux. Always a bit interesting when a 'new fundamental state' of anything is discovered, even if it's largely academic.

Caught this all over the scientific news sites. Phys.org actually posted two articles on it; the writers seem to be enthralled.

Definitely a great discovery though; current theoretical applications are information processing, communications, data storage, & superconductor advancements. There may be many other potential applications with the research that comes.

MIT physicists grew this pure crystal of herbertsmithite in their laboratory. This sample, which took 10 months to grow, is 7 mm long (just over a quarter-inch) and weighs 0.2 grams.

S&F because it is interesting, it is not doomporn and it is not about gun control or fiscal cliffs.

P

reply to post by pheonix358


Precisely. Scientific research & technology advances is what I enjoy the most nowadays. All the doom & gloom threads that make the front page, I'll post in occasionally; but they're not my cup of tea. They're important for spreading valuable information on current world issues; but at a certain point the negativity takes its toll.

dun dun Dunnnnn

reply to post by Raelsatu


It definitely has uses right out of 'Star Trek', but no doubt it's much too premature for that sort of speculation.

I'm still fascinated by what they claim is happening here - in my layperson's view, it's a solid piece of matter (the crystal) yet the magnetic properties are as if it were a liquid, like say a liquid metal, and changes within this magnetic field can be instantaneous between separate parts. Dunno what the implications of all that are, but sounds cool...

explaining magnets!

always fun to read about for me.

Nice find and as others have said, yey! something interesting thats not about people dieing in any way.

S+F

EDIT: the only question is, when do we get to play with them!

reply to post by jessejamesxx


OMG d00d there's a reference to MIT in "Indiana Jones" at 1:58 into the movie, according to the 'Rules of the Illuminati' they have to telegraph all their moves in obscure movie references, QSL was foreshadowed...

anyhow thanks for the laugh!

Did you see the article about the gravity powered light on the sidebar of this link. Of course it won't be available here, we have to buy batteries and solar panels. This is the third product I found that is only available to third world countries, we have to be dependant on capitalism in these parts of the world. phys.org...

Hang some sand or rocks on it and you get a light for half an hour. Just lift the rocks to reset it and another half an hour. We need to investigate all this stuff. If they can afford it cheaply in third world countries why can't we buy it cheaply? What a crooked system we have allowed to be created.

reply to post by rickymouse


Good catch, like that link better than the topic itself, lol - at least it's more practical to me. Something like that would be extremely useful not only for survival/prepper reasons but just to cut the umbilical cord to utilities. I have a few hand-cranked flashlights/radios but something that can go for a half-hour with minimal fuss is gold to me.

reply to post by rickymouse


Yes I saw the article the day it was released; your post is slightly melodramatic though. Apart from the fact you have to fill the device with dirt every 30 minutes just to power it, it doesn't save that much. It's a great thing for 3rd world countries, and maybe for survivalist, the homeless & or poor. Generally speaking it's not much of consequence for the rest of us.

That said, there's a ton of other technology being developed that will provide free, cheap, green &/or unlimited energy. One of the big ones are LENR devices, which are currently being researched & even manufactured. In 2013 Rossi will begin selling 10kw home units that will provide self-sustainable electricity & heat for months at a time. Some people think it's a huge hoax, but so far the coverage by independent sources & others shows promise. He recently signed a deal/contract with an American company called Prometeon SRL, for a 1MW unit.

This is only a single one of the devices. There are many other countries developing LENR power, & other forms of cheap energy. So although this dirt-filled light is a great invention, it's not the one to revolutionize everything.

reply to post by Raelsatu


You do not have to fill anything with dirt every 30 minutes. Read the articles properly please.

P

So say you have a piece of this and far far away is another piece of this. You can rapidly change the magnetism of it. You develop a code of some sort to transmit information. Would that work?

If it flips its magnetic poles at random with no power input, you have free energy. You would just put a transformer core around it and wind some wires around it and get energy from the coil.

If it flips its poles when a similar piece some distance away is put in an alternating magnetic field, you have energy teleportation. That would solve the battery problem as the battery could be charging all the time.

reply to post by Raelsatu


Thanks to Blackmarketter for the thread, and I agree with you - scientific advances and new discoveries are a couple of the things I look for on the net each day. And with all the discoveries and inventions related to potential computer technology, when they all come together expect our internet and computers to do even more wonderous things.

Originally posted by XL5
If it flips its magnetic poles at random with no power input, you have free energy. You would just put a transformer core around it and wind some wires around it and get energy from the coil.

If it flips its poles when a similar piece some distance away is put in an alternating magnetic field, you have energy teleportation. That would solve the battery problem as the battery could be charging all the time.

Nice connecting the quantum dots. Maybe you should contact the scientists involved and email them your thoughts and questions.

just imagine how new generation of motors will work.

The best news of this year.

Originally posted by Raelsatu
reply to post by rickymouse

 

It's a great thing for 3rd world countries, and maybe for the homeless & or poor.

Sooo the majority of the people on the planet?

This could be a radical suggestion, but instead of discovering new forms of magnetism, how about we first unravel the secrets of the one(s) we already know about?

reply to post by EarthlingSpelunker


HEHE, exactly
only NEWS makes money I guess