A group of researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently observed unique helical spin states in Heisenberg quantum magnets. After making the discovery, the team posted a paper on their findings and elaborated on the impact it could have on spin-related physical processes and dynamics in quantum systems.  Finding Quantum Magnetism A large portion of the group’s research revolved around quantum magnetism, which is when quantum mechanical effects are dominant during magnetic spins. In order to replicate this theory, each particle should be viewed as if it were spinning and moving in different directions. Two particles also exchange their relative orientations while remaining in the same place. One researcher explained that thermalization will eventually take place when all of the particles spin along the same pattern before going off the path. A separate study from the University of Wuppertal and the University of Ljubljana claims that a simple pattern of spins that is less affected by thermalization can be classified as a phantom helix state, capable of holding more information than previous models while not showing as much spin decay. In their new study, they set out to examine the helix states by placing ultracold lithium atoms in a 3D optical lattice using laser beams.  Researchers rotated magnets until they created a transverse helix that moves up and down. The team was able to measure the relationships between the transverse and longitudinal directions (anisotropy), which helped them analyze the spin dynamics within the model.  Exploring Their Findings  Physicists say the interaction strengths in the Heisenberg model went in both transverse and longitudinal directions. They said these interactions could be altered by using the magnetic field to change the distance between the particles involved. This is far different from past tests when researchers could only make estimations. Now, phantom helix states can be used to measure the anisotropy directly and help carry out quantum simulations and improve their reliability in the future. The team also reported inconsistencies with theoretical models and the measurement of spin dynamics since inconsistencies were found with anisotropy estimations. They plan on investigating this in future tests to get a more accurate picture of the model’s limitations.  Apex Magnets Explore our other blog posts to learn more about magnets, their uses, and projects you can conduct from the comfort of your own home. You can also explore our site to help meet all of your magnet needs. Contact us today to start making your order!