Israeli and Chinese scientists have discovered a new way to control tiny magnetic structures called skyrmions, which could help create faster and more energy-efficient technology in the future, according to the Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL).
These magnetic swirls are just billionths of a meter wide, but they can be moved using very little energy—making them a promising tool for next-generation electronics.
The research was led by Assistant Professor Amir Capua and PhD student Nirel Bernstein from Hebrew University’s Institute of Applied Physics and Nano Center, along with scientists from Tiangong University in China. The team worked with a special magnetic material called Fe₃Sn₂ (iron tin), known for keeping skyrmions stable even at high temperatures — a key requirement for real-world use.
“We were able to make the skyrmions vibrate in specific ways by sending electrical currents through the material,” said Prof. Capua. “These movements, which we call resonances, help us understand how spin currents behave.”
Using advanced tools that detect tiny changes in magnetism, the team found that the skyrmions showed two kinds of motion: a “breathing” mode, where they expand and contract like lungs, and a spinning motion. This confirmed previous predictions and showed that Fe₃Sn₂ behaves differently from other magnetic materials. The study was recently published in the peer-reviewed Nature Communications.
The team also noticed a surprising effect when they applied a steady current: the resonance signals changed in a way that revealed the presence of special spin currents — flows of magnetic energy created by the movement of electrons’ spins, rather than their electric charge.
“This shows us that spin currents can affect magnetic materials in new ways we haven’t seen before,” Capua explained. “Instead of the usual type of interaction called spin-transfer torque, we saw a different effect known as spin-orbit torque.”
The scientists also found hints that both the position and momentum of spins in the material affect how electric and magnetic signals move through it. This gives scientists new ways to think about controlling signals in future devices.
While the study focuses on basic physics, its potential applications are far-reaching.
One of the most promising areas is low-power memory storage. Because skyrmions can be controlled with minimal energy, they could form the basis of faster, more durable, and energy-efficient memory devices, potentially replacing traditional flash drives or hard disks.
Another key application lies in neuromorphic computing, a field that aims to mimic how the human brain processes information. Skyrmion-based systems could act like artificial neurons, offering a path to hardware that learns and adapts with far less energy than today’s AI chips. Additionally, the team’s method of detecting “spin currents” using skyrmion vibrations could lead to highly sensitive magnetic sensors for medical imaging, quantum computing, and advanced electronics.
These findings also push forward the field of spintronics, where devices use the spin of electrons — rather than just their charge — to store and manipulate data. Skyrmions offer a stable, compact way to control spin, enabling new types of transistors and logic devices that are faster and generate less heat. This could help create everything from more powerful processors to smart materials and flexible electronics for future wearables.
“This kind of research helps us build the foundation for the electronics of tomorrow,” said Capua. “By understanding how these tiny magnetic structures behave, we can design smarter, more efficient devices.”
