A checkerboard of electron spins (IMAGE)

DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

A checkerboard of electron spins

Caption

A new study found that nickelate superconductors, like their cousins the cuprates, are antiferromagnetic. Their electron spins - represented by gold arrows here - form a checkerboard pattern, so each down spin is surrounded by up spins and vice versa. The alternating spins cancel each other out, so the material as a whole is not magnetic in the ordinary sense. Researchers at SLAC, Stanford and Diamond Light Source discovered important similarities like this one as well as subtle differences between the two materials.

Credit

Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.