Bismuth ferrite is a lead-free material that is a promising candidate for use in spintronic devices, which use the spin of electrons to store and process information. However, the mechanisms behind the material's properties were not well understood.
A team of physicists from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Vienna used a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental measurements to determine how bismuth ferrite works. They found that the material's properties are due to the interaction between the spins of the electrons and the lattice of the material.
This interaction creates a new type of magnetic order that is not found in other materials, and this order is responsible for the material's unique properties.
The findings could pave the way for new uses for bismuth ferrite in spintronic and high-density memory devices. For example, the material could be used to create new types of magnetic sensors and memory devices that are more energy efficient and have higher storage capacities than existing devices.
The research is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
