Physicists from the University of Buffalo have developed a theoretical scheme for a quantum sensor designed to detect altermagnets, a promising class of magnetic materials. Published in Physical Review Letters, the study proposes using a diamond with a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center, which is highly sensitive to local magnetic fields. 

By placing this defect near a sample and measuring the anisotropy of its spin relaxation rate, researchers can identify complex magnetic ordering. This non-invasive approach avoids distorting the material's intrinsic properties, a common limitation of existing detection methods.

The research team includes Associate Professor Jamir Marino, Libor Šmejkal, and Jairo Sinova (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), alongside Hossein Hosseinabadi and V.A.S.V. Bittencourt. Interest in altermagnets is driven by their unique combination of zero net magnetization and ferromagnetic electronic effects, paving the way for faster and more energy-efficient electronics. While currently existing as a measurement protocol, this framework lays the groundwork for the experimental identification of over 200 potential altermagnetic compounds.