Researchers Surf the Magnon Wave to Control Particles in Next-Gen Electronics - CleanTechnica

A recent study led by researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and international collaborators has demonstrated how magnons—waves in magnetic systems—can be used to control interactions between excitons, which are neutral quasiparticles that carry energy in materials. By linking magnetic and charge excitations in certain magnetic semiconductors, the team showed that electron pair interactions, fundamental to next-generation electronics, can be modulated. This was explained through a newly developed quantum-mechanical theoretical framework. The findings, published in Nature Materials, suggest potential applications in quantum technologies, particularly in developing quantum transducers essential for quantum communication and computing. Excitons form when an energized electron and the hole it leaves behind bind together, influencing how materials absorb and emit light, which is critical for devices like solar panels, LEDs, and smartphones. Magnons, related to electron spin orientations, offer a means to manipulate magnetic properties in these materials. The ability to control exciton behavior via magnons opens new avenues for opt