Neutron experiments have uncovered an unexpected connection between magnetic structure and electrical behavior.

A gentle squeeze can change the magnetic structure of certain crystals and alter their electrical behavior. Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) demonstrated this effect in altermagnets, an emerging class of magnetic materials being investigated for advanced electronics.

Using neutron beams to examine the materials at the atomic scale, the researchers found that mechanical strain could shift their magnetic organization and influence an electrical response associated with electron transport. The findings, published in back-to-back papers in Physical Review X and Advanced Materials, point to a possible method for controlling magnetic properties without altering a material’s chemical composition.