Scientists Find Proof of a Third Type of Magnetism

For nearly ninety years, physicists have divided magnetic materials into two primary categories known as ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. A research team led by the United States Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has now confirmed a third category exists. This newly verified phase is called altermagnetism and combines features from both traditional groups.

Investigating Manganese Telluride

The research team focused their study on manganese telluride, a material previously classified as a standard antiferromagnet. Scientists looked for direct evidence of chirality, which is an asymmetry in the magnetic structure that resembles the twist of a spiral staircase. This property acts as a key indicator of altermagnetism. To test the material, the team used the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France, where they directed circularly polarized X-rays at the sample to measure how it scattered different light polarizations.

New Horizons for Technology

The experiments revealed a clear difference in how the material interacted with left-handed and right-handed X-ray beams. Conventional antiferromagnets do not produce this specific chiral signature. Confirming this third form of magnetism could help developers build advanced memory systems, quantum devices, and more efficient data centers.