NEW MAGNETS PEOPLE! These magnets essentially have fewer electrons, which means stronger magnetism and could lead to new energy saving technology. These new magnets are made from a material called bismuth telluride, to which the magnetic material called manganese is added. This class of material is called topologic insulators. What makes this bismuth so interesting is the behavior of its electrons, in that they behave very differently from those in a conventional magnet. For example, they do not scatter easily, proving beneficial for the electronic applications the magnet may be applied to. Electrons in the surface state also occupy a special electronic state known as the Dirac Cone, pictured below.

The electrons that accumulate near the intersection of these Dirac cones are responsible for its magnetic properties, however only a limited number can occupy this position at a time. In fact, as more electrons are pumped into the system, as shown by research the magnetic effects are actually weakened. In addition, at the domain walls of the dirac cones magnetism falls to zero, which shows another property of these magnetic topologic insulators: the elctronic current flows without loss around the edges, in this case the domain walls. The only thing holding scientists back is controlling the quality of the new magnetic material, however new developments in thin film technology are making the future look that much more promising.