Today’s computer technology, based on silicon chips, is slowly reaching its physical limits. Components cannot be miniaturized indefinitely, and clock speeds cannot be increased indefinitely. At the same time, huge AI data centers are being built in many places, and these consume an immense amount of electricity. This is why scientists around the world are searching for novel materials that can replace or complement silicon technology and consume significantly less electricity.

Using a combination of X-ray techniques, a research team at PSI has now been able to break down in detail the rapid interplay among different excitations in such a material—electronic, magnetic and lattice excitations.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.