Physicists have uncovered a hidden third form of magnetism that challenges more than 100 years of established physics. Called altermagnetism, the discovery could transform future computing and electronics while opening an entirely new frontier in quantum research.
Imagine a material made of groups of atoms, each group having an arrow.
Ferromagnetism: If the material is in a magnetic field, all groups and their arrows point along the magnetic field.
Anti-ferromagnetism: If the material is in a magnetic field, half the groups and their arrows point against the magnetic field such that net magnetization is zero.
Altermagnetism: If the material is in a magnetic field, the groups may orient along different directions, but their arrows still align such that magnetization is zero.
What are the physical effects of each type? I understand ferromagnetism since that’s just how iron behaves, but what do the other 2 look like?
I updated my answer. My challenge here is to write a rough understanding, without using any technical jargon (necessary for accuracy).
I appreciate the effort, my college physics courses are a bit too far in my past to remember these things