Light-Activated Plastic Magnet

Previously, directed light has produced a magnetic response in metallic materials but physicists at Ohio State are now the first to produce light-induced magnetization in an organic-based material. The material, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), contained within a manganese compound, was exposed to blue light which caused the magnetization to increase by as much as 50%. The new magnetism could then be undone by green light. The researchers (Arthur Epstein, 614-292-1133, epstein@mps.ohio-state.edu) believe that the light can be selectively targeted to domains as small (or smaller) as the wavelength of the light itself, thus possibly enabling information storage. Currently a magneto-optic effect is used to store information, but only in the read mode. The new process promises to offer both reading and writing capability. As usual, the benefits of using plastic electronic components include flexibility, low cost, and tunability. (Pejakovic et al., Physical Review Letters, 4 Feb.)