Pioneering new research could help unlock exciting new potential to create ultrafast, laser-driven storage devices. The study, led by experts from the University of Exeter, could revolutionize the field of data storage through the development of laser-driven magnetic domain memories.

The new research is based on creating a pivotal new method for using heat to manipulate magnetism with unprecedented precision in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials. It is published in the journal Nature Communications.

Typically, heat is an unwanted byproduct of power consumption in electronic devices, especially in semiconductors. As devices become smaller and more compact, managing heat has become one of the major challenges in modern electronics.