A Magnetic Metal for Future Electronics ⚡ экспресс
First-principles calculations (DFT) showed that the Heusler alloy Co₂FeGe is a ferromagnetic metal. Magnetism is provided by cobalt and iron atoms, while high conductivity comes from delocalized electrons. This combination is a boon for spintronics, where information is transferred not only by charge but also by electron spin. Imagine a highway where all cars move in one direction without traffic jams — that's how a spin-polarized current reduces energy losses. The result paves the way to faster and more energy-efficient memory.
Every electron in a conductor is like a spinning top: it moves and spins at the same time. In ordinary electronics, only the movement — electric current — matters. But the direction of spin carries an extra bit of information. Scientists have long sought materials where these microscopic tops can be controlled without loss. Computer modeling of the alloy Co2FeGe (cobalt, iron, germanium) showed that its electrons spin together in one direction. Such alignment reduces chaos in spin arrangement and yields a rare combination — magnetism with high conductivity. Moreover, it lets through only electrons with one spin direction, like a turnstile that sorts by clockwise rotation. This property paves the way for memory devices that barely heat up and work an order of magnitude faster. Verification of the prediction will rest on a computer analogue of spectroscopy — a method that "sees" spins by reflected light (like measuring the brightness of reflected light in a camera). All calculations relied on the standard quantum model.
🎯 The first Heusler alloy was discovered by accident in 1903: mixing copper, manganese, and aluminum — none of them magnetic — produced a material attracted to a magnet. It's as if mixing flour and water suddenly yielded a battery.