Scientists of Sarov Physical Technical institute, MEPhI branch, and RFNC-VNIIEF, conduct joint theoretical research of frustrated Ising magnets, a special class of substances, which is considered perspective for creation of magnetic record. It is believed that these magnets will help to implement superdense memory in the future. The task was first put in 1977, but the power of computers of that time was not enough for three-dimensional modeling of events, occurring at the nanoscale.

Frustration in physics is the phenomenon of the impossibility of simultaneous minimization of all terms of the structure in the presence of competing interactions. This may mean something like vibration, the constant desire (and impossibility) of atoms to change their location. Such a "voltage" of the lattice leads to a whole spectrum of curious phenomena.

For example, substance can be controlled with magnets, which is the basis for the idea of ​​ultra-dense data recording. In addition, when passing through a certain point of frustration, a fundamental change in the structure and properties of the substance takes place. As nanophysicists say, frustrations at the atomic level are everywhere, but they are almost always not noticed.

Sarov specialists have been conducting research in this field for more than seven years. "We have carried out theoretical and experimental studies of frustrated Ising magnetic and charge systems. These include Ca3Co2O6, CsCoCl3 and the new electron multiferroic LuFe2O4.

The section of the frustrating structure of Ca3Co2O

Such substances have unusual magnetic and electrical properties and in the future can be used in new micro- and nanoelectronic devices, for example, to create new memory elements. Our group develops the theory of such magnetic systems, as well as conducts experimental studies of impedance spectroscopy and behavior in strong magnetic fields,” explained the research supervisor of the project, head of the department "Experimental Physics" SarPhTI MEPhI, chief scientific officer of the Scientific and Technical Center of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "RFNC-VNIIEF", Doctor of Physics and Mathematics Yuri Kudasov.

Project’s scientific manager Yuri Kudasov.

The results of a breakthrough collective study of unusual magnetic memory were presented at the XXI International Symposium "Nanophysics and Nanoelectronics-2017" in Nizhny Novgorod and were highly estimated.