"Breakthrough Discovery: Unveiling a Hidden Spectrum of Magnon Excitations in Antiferromagnetic Thin Films"

Scientists at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) have discovered a previously unknown spectrum of magnon excitations in an antiferromagnetic thin film made of hematite. Magnon excitations are of interest for spintronics applications, as they allow for information transfer without the need for electron movement. The research team used the Soft Inelastic X-ray Scattering (SIX) beamline at NSLS-II to measure the behavior of magnon waves in the thin film, revealing both familiar and previously unseen modes of excitation. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental behavior of materials used in spintronics and may aid in the design of more efficient devices.