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November 3, 2008

Diamagnetic Materials (Image 2)

Diamagnetic Materials (Image 2)

Figure B (magnetic material). This magnetic lattice, equivalent to that shown in Figure A, shows the analogy between the loops of current (green arrows) around the magnetic spins (orange arrows) and the lattice rotations in a "non-magnetic" material (green arrows in Figure A).

A magnetic lattice, shown in Figure B, can have the same symmetry as a "non-magnetic" lattice (shown in Figure A). Both lattices, in this case, are described as having the point group symmetry that the scientists call 4'mm'.

A team of researchers from Penn State University has shown for the first time that the entire class of "non-magnetic"1 materials, such as those used in some computer components, could have considerably more uses than scientists had thought. The findings are important because they reveal previously unknown information about the structure of these materials, expanding the number of properties that they potentially could have. A material's properties, such as electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, are what determine its usefulness. To learn more about this research, see the Penn State news story, "Study Finds New Properties in 'Non-Magnetic' Materials."

[This research was supported by National Science Foundation grants DMR 02-13623, DMR 03-49632, DMR 05-12165, DMR 05-07146, DMR 06-02986, DMR 06-02770 and ECCS 07-08759.] (Date of Image: 2008) [See related image Here.]

Credit: Sava Denev, Penn State University


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