Unconventional magnets: stress reduces frustration

Magnetism is fascinating. 1/4 images An international research team recently demonstrated how magnetism can be actively changed by pressure. Magnetism occurs depending on how electrons behave. For example, the elementary particles can generate an electric current with their charge and thereby induce a magnetic field. However, magnetism can also arise through the collective alignment of the magnetic moments (spins) in a material. What has not been possible until now, however, is to continuously change the type of magnetism in a crystal. An international research team led by TU Wien professor Andrej Pustogow has now succeeded in doing just that: Changing magnetism "by pushing a button".