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  • Scientists twist tinty crystals to control electricity

    From Jan Panteltje@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 05:11:03
    Scientists twist tiny crystals to control electricity
    Date:
    January 25, 2026
    Source:
    RIKEN
    Summary:
    Researchers have developed a technique that allows them to carve complex three dimensional nanodevices directly from single crystals.
    To demonstrate its power, they sculpted microscopic helices from a magnetic material
    and found that the structures behave like switchable diodes.
    Electric current prefers one direction, but the effect can be flipped by changing the magnetization or the twist of the helix.
    The findings show that geometry itself can be used as a tool for electronic design.

    Link:
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125081138.htm


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jeroen Belleman@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:39:26
    On 1/28/26 06:11, Jan Panteltje wrote:
    Scientists twist tiny crystals to control electricity
    Date:
    January 25, 2026
    Source:
    RIKEN
    Summary:
    Researchers have developed a technique that allows them to carve complex three dimensional nanodevices directly from single crystals.
    To demonstrate its power, they sculpted microscopic helices from a magnetic material
    and found that the structures behave like switchable diodes.
    Electric current prefers one direction, but the effect can be flipped by changing the magnetization or the twist of the helix.
    The findings show that geometry itself can be used as a tool for electronic design.

    Link:
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125081138.htm


    This would have interesting if it had worked at room temperature,
    but between 10 and 190K, it's much less so.

    It may still be interesting for the ability to sculpt complex
    microscopic 3D shapes, we'll see.

    Jeroen Belleman

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.6
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)