Konstanz Physicists Control Material Properties Using Light for Data Storage

Physicists at the University of Konstanz, led by Davide Bossini, have demonstrated a method for manipulating magnetic properties using light, publishing their findings in Science Advances in June 2025. The research team successfully excited high-frequency magnon pairs—collective magnetic vibrations—at room temperature using laser pulses, altering the frequencies and amplitudes of other magnons without applying heat. This process, conducted within the Collaborative Research Centre SFB 1432 and funded by the German Research Foundation, utilized readily available materials like haematite and offers potential for advancements in data storage and transmission, as well as quantum research.

Terahertz Control of Magnetic Excitations

The research team at the University of Konstanz successfully excited high-frequency magnon pairs using laser pulses, demonstrating control over their frequency, amplitude, and lifetime – a process not predicted by existing theoretical frameworks. This direct excitation of high-frequency magnons allows for the alteration of the frequencies and amplitudes of other magnons, effectively modifying the magnetic properties of the material without relying on thermal effects. The ability to manipulate these magnetic properties through light, rather than heat, presents potential benefits for advancements in data storage and faster data transmission.

Every solid material possesses a unique set of resonant frequencies, including electronic transitions, lattice vibrations, and magnetic excitations, which the researchers describe as a “magnetic DNA” or fingerprint. The newly developed method allows for the manipulation of this frequency set, temporarily altering the material’s properties, and offers a non-thermal means of control. This precise control over resonant frequencies is particularly relevant for the development of novel approaches to terahertz data storage.

The experiments utilized haematite, an iron ore historically used in compasses, highlighting the potential for practical applications due to the material’s accessibility. Furthermore, the research suggests the possibility of inducing Bose-Einstein condensates of high-energy magnons at room temperature, a development that would enable the investigation of quantum effects without extensive cooling. Such advancements could open new avenues for quantum research and further enhance the possibilities for high-density terahertz data storage.

Manipulating Material Properties with Light

The impetus for this research stems from the increasing demands placed on current information technology by the proliferation of data generated by artificial intelligence and the “Internet of Things”, which are approaching a bottleneck necessitating new approaches to data storage and transmission. Utilizing electron spins, specifically collective spin waves known as magnons, offers a potential solution, as these waves can be influenced by lasers and potentially enable data transmission and storage in the terahertz range. A key limitation, however, has been the inability to efficiently excite magnons beyond their lowest frequencies, hindering the full realization of this potential.

The research team’s breakthrough addresses this limitation by directly exciting high-frequency magnon pairs, achieving control over their frequency, amplitude, and lifetime – a process that was unexpected and not predicted by existing theoretical frameworks. By driving these high-frequency magnons with laser pulses, the physicists were able to alter the frequencies and amplitudes of other magnons, effectively modifying the magnetic properties of the material in a non-thermal manner. This non-thermal control offers advantages for future data storage and fast data transmission without the limitations imposed by heat buildup, potentially enabling advancements in terahertz data storage.

The experiments utilized readily available materials, notably haematite, an iron ore historically employed in compasses, further enhancing the potential for practical applications. Furthermore, the research suggests the possibility of inducing Bose-Einstein condensates of high-energy magnons at room temperature, which would facilitate the investigation of quantum effects without the need for extensive cooling and potentially open new avenues in quantum research.

Implications for Quantum Research and Data Storage

The potential to induce Bose-Einstein condensates of high-energy magnons at room temperature represents a significant advancement, as it would enable the investigation of quantum effects without the need for extensive cooling. This development could facilitate further exploration of quantum phenomena and potentially unlock new avenues in quantum research, building upon the control achieved over magnetic excitations.

The research utilizes haematite, an iron ore historically employed in compasses, as the material for these experiments, demonstrating the feasibility of employing readily available materials for advanced applications. This accessibility further enhances the potential for practical implementation and scalability of the findings, particularly concerning the development of terahertz data storage technologies.