In a groundbreaking advancement poised to redefine the future of low-energy electronics, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have demonstrated a pioneering method to control magnetism in materials through the application of electric fields. This innovative approach, realized in magnetoelectric materials, unveils the capability to steer magnetic textures—a feat that promises substantial impacts on next-generation memory devices, sustainable data centers, and versatile energy technologies. The full details of this study have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, illuminating a new horizon in the field of magnetism and materials science.
At the heart of this research lies the exploration of magnetoelectric compounds, materials where electric and magnetic properties intertwine intimately. This interplay paves the way to manipulate magnetic states without relying on traditional magnetic fields, which typically require significant energy input. Instead, the electrical control exemplified in these materials opens pathways toward drastically reduced power consumption in electronic components—an urgently needed breakthrough as data centers and AI computing platforms increasingly strain global energy resources.
The focal point of the experiment is an unusual crystalline substance called copper oxyselenide (Cu₂OSeO₃), characterized by its olive-green hue and unique magnetic properties at low temperatures. Within this material, atomic spins—essentially tiny magnetic moments attributable to electrons—organize into elaborate nanoscale patterns such as helices and cones. These magnetic textures extend far beyond the atomic lattice scale, permitting substantial adaptability since their configurations are not rigidly fixed to the underlying crystal symmetry.
Prior investigations have established the existence of such magnetic arrangements, but their controllability has been limited by the constraints imposed by external magnetic fields. PSI’s team, however, has achieved a landmark by applying a finely tuned electric field that alters the propagation direction of these magnetic textures, effectively steering them in a continuous and deterministic manner. This electric field-mediated steering transcends previous limitations by enabling a process termed magnetoelectric deflection, in which the magnetic spirals shift orientation without mechanical or magnetic intervention.
To visualize this delicate effect, the team harnessed the exceptional capabilities of the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source (SINQ), specifically employing the Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) technique on the SANS-I beamline. This method leverages streams of neutrons to map the spatial arrangement and directional propagation of magnetic structures at nanoscale resolution. The experiment was designed with a custom sample environment, allowing high electric fields to be applied in situ while probing magnetic configurations, revealing real-time responses of the magnetic textures under varying conditions.
Jonathan White, beamline scientist at PSI, emphasized the experimental ingenuity involved, noting that capturing magnetoelectric deflection demands the unparalleled resolution and flexibility afforded by SANS-I. The measurement’s sensitivity enabled the detection of minute adjustments in magnetic propagation vectors, a testament to how advanced instrumentation can unlock subtle, yet fundamentally transformative physical phenomena.
Delving deeper into the physics, the research unveiled that the response of the magnetic textures to electric fields is not monolithic but manifests in three distinctly separable regimes. At low electric field strengths, the textures exhibit a smooth, linear deflection, subtly reorienting in accordance with the applied field. With medium electric fields, the system enters a complex, nonlinear response domain, suggesting the interplay of competing energy terms and emergent interactions not captured by simplistic models. Most remarkably, high field strengths instigate abrupt 90-degree flips in the magnetic texture’s propagation direction, signaling a threshold-driven transition that could be harnessed for binary switching applications.
These findings hold profound technological implications. According to Sam Moody, a leading postdoctoral researcher and the study’s principal author, the ability to toggle between diverse response regimes through precise electric and magnetic field modulation could underpin next-generation device architectures. For example, hybrid devices leveraging these controllable magnetic trajectory flips might deliver ultra-fast, energy-efficient memory and sensor functionalities without the heat dissipation or complexity typical of current technologies.
Fundamental to the excitement surrounding this discovery is its promise to enable magnetism manipulation with unprecedented energy efficiency. Electric fields can be applied with minimal power overhead compared to magnetic fields, offering a sustainable alternative for information storage and magnetic logic operations. Such energy-conscious approaches are critical as the electronics industry confronts physical limits and environmental concerns associated with escalating data processing demands.
Additionally, the flexibility with which copper oxyselenide’s magnetic textures can be tuned introduces a versatile platform for exploring new physics and device paradigms. The observed nonlinear and threshold behaviors hint at rich underlying interactions guided by spin-orbit coupling, magnetoelectric coupling, and perhaps emergent multi-scale phenomena. These avenues open fertile ground for interdisciplinary research spanning condensed matter physics, materials engineering, and device science.
Importantly, the PSI team’s innovative combination of experimental design and high-precision neutron scattering paves the way for translating fundamental discoveries into real-world applications. By controlling magnetic spiral trajectories deterministically via electric fields, a class of low-power, high-speed nanomagnetic devices may soon be realized—devices aligned with global efforts to create greener, smarter computing infrastructure.
Beyond computing, the implications of such magnetoelectric control extend into energy conversion technologies and medical devices where finely tuned magnetic behavior at the nanoscale is essential. The magnetoelectric deflection technique could lead to enhanced sensors, actuators, and components that exploit magnetic responses optimized through electrical stimuli, radically expanding the scope of functional materials.
This seminal research symbolizes a crucial leap from observing exotic magnetic phenomena toward harnessing them in practical settings. As we witness escalating demands for energy efficiency and novel functionalities in electronic systems, magnetoelectric materials like copper oxyselenide exemplify the transformative potential residing in quantum materials and advanced experimentation techniques.
The work from PSI underscores how marrying cutting-edge neutron scattering science with creative engineering illuminates unseen realms of physics and nurtures technology innovations of tomorrow. These discoveries chart a compelling roadmap for sustained exploration and application of magnetoelectric effects in a variety of fields, heralding a new era of electrically controlled magnetism for precision and sustainability in technology.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field
News Publication Date: 6-Jun-2025
Web References: 10.1038/s41467-025-60288-1
Image Credits: Paul Scherrer Institute / AI-assisted visualisation
Keywords
Magnetoelectric materials, electric field control, nanomagnetic spirals, copper oxyselenide, magnetoelectric deflection, small-angle neutron scattering, SANS-I beamline, Swiss Spallation Neutron Source, energy-efficient magnetism, spin textures, magnetic switching, advanced materials physics
