Quasicrystals and their Unusual Properties
Scientists in the field of condensed media physics are drawn to quasicrystals, which possess a unique atomic structure that differentiates them from ordered structures found in ordinary crystals. These structures have the potential to push boundaries in this field.
Of special interest to researchers is the icosaedic quasicrystal Tsai (IQC) and its cubic approximant crystals (AC). These materials exhibit remarkable properties, such as long-range ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, as well as unusual quantum phenomena. This makes them promising candidates for technologies like spintronics and magnetic cooling.
Professor Ryuji Tamura from the Tokyo University of Science, along with colleagues from the University of Tokhok, have focused their efforts on studying a non-Gizenberg type of quasicrystal, composed of gold, gallium, and terbia.
These materials possess unique characteristics, including aging, memory, and rejuvenation, which make them potential candidates for the next generation of magnetic data storage devices. Additionally, they could pave the way for advancements in refrigeration technology.
However, until recently, the inner workings of these materials, particularly their magnetic phase diagram, remained largely mysterious. The researchers have now published their findings in the journal “Materials Today Physics,” providing the first-ever magnetic phase diagram for the non-Heisenberg type AC.
In order to create this diagram, the team conducted experiments on magnetization and powder neutron diffraction, covering a wide range of electron ratios on the atom (E/A). These measurements unveiled a non-planar vortex antiferromagnetic order with an E/A ratio of 1.72 and a non-planar vortex ferromagnetic order with an E/A ratio of 1.80.
Professor Tamura emphasizes the significance of these results, as they contribute to a greater understanding of magnetic interactions in non-Gizenberg AC types and pave the way for comprehending the properties of non-open non-Gizenberg IQc.
This discovery is a significant advancement for condensed media physics and quasicrystal research, opening new possibilities for the development of advanced electronic devices and next-generation refrigeration.