Schematic of electric switching of electron flow in QAH insulator (IMAGE)
Caption
A new method by Penn State researchers conveniently changes the direction of electron flow in materials that exhibit the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect — a phenomenon in which the flow of electrons along the edge of a material does not lose energy. The method takes advantage of a physical mechanism called spin-orbit torque, which is related to the material’s internal magnetism. Applying a 5-millisecond current pulse to the material impacts the internal magnetism and changes the discretion of electron flow (e.g. from right-handed to left-handed).
Credit
Chang Lab/Penn State
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License
CC BY-SA