The rules of physics dictate that a magnet with only one pole cannot exist, but the behavior of particles in the microscopic world often changes the rules. Recently, physicists discovered magnetic monopoles in the natural mineral “hematite” for the first time, which may become the next Holy Grail of physics. Not only will it help create faster and more energy-efficient computer memories, the electromagnetic theory may need to be partially rewritten. There will be significant progress in physics and astronomy.
Magnetic monopole refers to an elementary particle with only a single magnetic pole. It is different from the familiar magnet – a magnetic dipole (magnetic dipole) with both N and S poles. The former’s magnetic field lines are distributed like point charges. The distribution of electric field lines, or elementary particles carrying isolated “magnetic charges”.
No matter the magnet attached to the refrigerator or the earth itself, it always has a pair of opposite magnetic poles that cannot be isolated. So far, no evidence of magnetic monopoles in the form of elementary particles has been found, but magnetic monopoles are an important part of the world of physics and astronomy in the 21st century. One of the popular research topics, because the magnetic monopole interaction process is completely different from general electromagnetic phenomena, it not only involves the source of material magnetism and the symmetry of electromagnetic phenomena, but is also related to the very early evolution of the universe, microscopic particle structure, etc.
Several theories that have not yet been experimentally confirmed and go beyond the standard model (such as grand unified theory and superstring theory) predict magnetic monopoles. Finding them would be like finding the missing piece of the puzzle.
Recently, teams from the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and the National University of Singapore used “diamond quantum sensing” technology to observe the rotating texture and weak magnetic signals on the surface of hematite, and for the first time experimentally observed naturally occurring magnetic monopoles.
▲ Researchers discovered magnetic monopoles on the surface of hematite materials. (Source:Cambridge University）
Scientists’ strategy for finding magnetic monopoles involves the concept of emergence. When many small physical entities are composed to produce large entities, the latter will exhibit properties greater than or different from those of the small entities. Researchers say this is what happens on the surface of hematite. Condition.
Vortex topology exists in two main types of materials: ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Antiferromagnets are more stable and more difficult to study than ferromagnets because they do not have strong magnetic characteristics.
In order to study the behavior of antiferromagnets, researchers used diamond quantum magnetometry imaging technology to accurately measure the surface magnetic field of the antiferromagnetic material “iron oxide” (without affecting its behavior), and found that a group of particles on the surface united to produce a single magnetic pole with only one magnetic pole. Particles have the same effect.
Hematite is a common iron oxide compound with the molecular formula Fe2O3. Tiny magnetic monopoles in hematite appear through the collective behavior of many spins. They slide on the rotating texture on the surface of hematite and radiate the magnetic field. , like tiny magnetically charged ice balls.
This research not only highlights the potential of diamond quantum magnetism measurement, but also highlights the hidden magnetic phenomena of quantum materials. If they can be controlled, these rotating textures with magnetic charges could power ultra-fast and more energy-efficient computer memory logic. Physics, There will also be significant developments in the basic theories of astronomy, and people will have a deeper understanding of the origin of the universe.
new paperPublished in the journal Nature Materials.
(Source of first picture:Wikipedia Loves Art participant “Assignment_Houston_One”, CC BY-SA 2.5via Wikimedia Commons）
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