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Scientists led by UCF physics professor Madhab Neupane have found experimental evidence of altermagnetism in a layered material called Co₁/₄TaSe₂. Altermagnetism is an emerging magnetic state that combines useful traits of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. Unlike conventional magnets, altermagnets avoid producing stray magnetic fields that can interfere with nearby components. However, unlike standard antiferromagnets, they can generate and detect spin currents, which researchers hope to use for future electronics.

To identify this state, the team used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, a technique that measures electron energy and movement. They first observed splitting in the material’s energy levels using methods insensitive to spin, then used spin-resolved measurements to confirm the split states carried opposite spin polarizations. The researchers required exceptionally clean samples because photoemission is sensitive to surface conditions. Their consistent experimental results matched theoretical predictions, confirming they had identified a genuine layered altermagnet where the electronic behavior originates primarily within the material itself rather than just on the surface.

Co₁/₄TaSe₂ belongs to a family of materials known as transition-metal dichalcogenides, or TMDs. These consist of extremely thin layers stacked together, allowing scientists to separate and combine them into structures suitable for thin-film devices. Magnetic cobalt atoms inserted between these layers create the material’s unusual properties. Milo Sprague, the study’s lead graduate student researcher, noted that this versatile platform helps resolve debates in altermagnetic theory regarding how spin-polarized states interact with other magnetic phenomena.

Most conventional electronics rely on electron charge to process data, but electrons also possess a property called spin. Altermagnets could be vital for spintronics because they control electron spin without the unwanted magnetic interference of traditional magnets. Neupane stated that as devices shrink, there is a need for materials that operate faster while consuming less energy. If this approach proves viable, layered altermagnets could lead the way in future electronics development by offering thin, adaptable materials capable of controlling spin without interference.