The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has successfully identified the microstructure of magnons for the first time in South Korea, paving the way for more sophisticated neuromorphic device designs. Magnons, crucial materials in neuromorphic devices, are wave phenomena that occur when quantum spins in magnetic materials influence each other. By examining these structures using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), the research team discovered numerous micro-frequency structures surrounding the known frequency areas of magnons. This discovery could significantly enhance the performance of neuromorphic devices, which are designed to mimic the human brain’s structure and thus process massive amounts of information with minimal energy consumption.
Thanks to their ability to transmit energy between spins in a wave-like manner, magnons have emerged as a promising material for neuromorphic devices, capable of sending multiple signals simultaneously with ultra-low power. Previously, only parts of the magnons’ structure with large bandwidths could be identified, limiting the development of high-performance neuromorphic devices. However, the KRISS team has now observed the entire structure of magnons, including the megahertz (MHz) range, opening new avenues for device development.
This advancement in electrical magnon observation technology is faster and more convenient than optical methods. Notably, magnons hold potential beyond neuromorphic devices, being considered for implementing quantum spin qubits, quantum ultrafast networks, and next-generation high-precision sensors, according to Ahn Kyung-mo, a research fellow at KRISS. The study was published in the prominent journal Nature Communications.