Realization of magnetic monopoles current in an artificial spin ice device: A step towards magnetronics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the experimental realization of magnetic monopole currents in an artificial spin ice device, showing potential for room-temperature magnetronics applications through controlled magnetic currents.

Contribution

It introduces a new artificial spin ice system that exhibits magnetic monopole currents at practical temperatures, with tunable parameters for magnetronics.

Findings

Experimental observation of emergent magnetic monopoles.

Controlled magnetic currents via external magnetic fields.

Potential for room-temperature magnetronics devices.

Abstract

Magnetricity- the magnetic equivalent of electricity- was recently verified experimentally for the first time. Indeed, just as the stream of electric charges produces electric current, emergent magnetic monopoles have been observed to roam freely (generating magnetic current) in geometrically frustrated magnets known as spin ice. However, this is realized only by considering extreme physical conditions as a single crystal of spin ice has to be cooled to a temperature of $0.36 K$. Candidates to overcome this difficulty are artificial analogues of spin ice crystals, the so-called artificial spin ices. Here we show that, by tuning geometrical frustration down, a peculiar type of these artificial systems is an excellent candidate. We produce this material and experimentally observe the emergent monopoles; then, we calculate the effects of external magnetic fields, illustrating how to generate controlled magnetic currents. This potential nano-device for use in magnetronics can be practical even at room temperature and the relevant parameters (such as magnetic charge strength etc) for developing this technology can be tuned at will.