Researchers at NIST, UCLA, and the Beijing Institute of Technology have discovered a new way to make topological insulators (TIs) magnetic using antiferromagnetic materials. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient computer components that generate less heat and potentially be used in quantum computers.
Topological insulators are materials that conduct electricity on their surface while being insulators inside. They are promising for electronics because electric current travels along them without losing energy as heat. However, their special properties are usually only observed at very low temperatures, typically requiring liquid helium to cool them.
The UCLA team found that stacking thin layers of TI between alternating layers of an antiferromagnetic material can make the TI magnetic without overwhelming its properties. This approach allows TIs to become magnetic and demonstrate their appealing hallmarks at temperatures above 77 Kelvin, which is warm enough to use liquid nitrogen for cooling instead of liquid helium.
The discovery makes TIs easier to study and suggests there might be other ways to increase their operational temperature further. While still not at room temperature, this breakthrough brings the practical application of TIs in electronics closer to reality.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2016/10/nist-collaboration-heats-exotic-topological-insulators
Keywords: Topological Insulators, Quantum Computers, Exchange Couplings, Antiferromagnet, Spin Structure
