Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial

Abstract Artificial Spin Ice (ASI) are promising metamaterials for neuromorphic computing, composed of interacting nanomagnets arranged in the plane. Every computing device requires the ability to transform, transmit and store information. While ASI excel at data transformation, their transmission a...

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Main Authors: Arthur Penty, Johannes H. Jensen, Ida Breivik, Anders Strømberg, Erik Folven, Gunnar Tufte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62515-1
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author Arthur Penty
Johannes H. Jensen
Ida Breivik
Anders Strømberg
Erik Folven
Gunnar Tufte
author_facet Arthur Penty
Johannes H. Jensen
Ida Breivik
Anders Strømberg
Erik Folven
Gunnar Tufte
author_sort Arthur Penty
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Artificial Spin Ice (ASI) are promising metamaterials for neuromorphic computing, composed of interacting nanomagnets arranged in the plane. Every computing device requires the ability to transform, transmit and store information. While ASI excel at data transformation, their transmission and storage capabilities have been lacking. Here, we take inspiration from Cellular Automata, where information transmission and storage can be realised by the glider, a simple moving structure. Employing an evolutionary algorithm, we discover the snake, a glider in pinwheel ASI. The snake is controlled by a global field protocol, providing precise manipulation of a magnetic texture on the order of 100 nm. We present the snake, both in simulation and experimentally, investigate the mechanism behind its movement and its robustness to disorder. Finally, we demonstrate how the snake can be exploited for computation and memory. The snake enables the integration of information transmission, storage and transformation into one magnetic substrate, unlocking the potential for ultra-low power computing devices.
format Article
id doaj-art-179b90d9d7754767ae914ba42657b3c5
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-179b90d9d7754767ae914ba42657b3c52025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-62515-1Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterialArthur Penty0Johannes H. Jensen1Ida Breivik2Anders Strømberg3Erik Folven4Gunnar Tufte5Department of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Artificial Spin Ice (ASI) are promising metamaterials for neuromorphic computing, composed of interacting nanomagnets arranged in the plane. Every computing device requires the ability to transform, transmit and store information. While ASI excel at data transformation, their transmission and storage capabilities have been lacking. Here, we take inspiration from Cellular Automata, where information transmission and storage can be realised by the glider, a simple moving structure. Employing an evolutionary algorithm, we discover the snake, a glider in pinwheel ASI. The snake is controlled by a global field protocol, providing precise manipulation of a magnetic texture on the order of 100 nm. We present the snake, both in simulation and experimentally, investigate the mechanism behind its movement and its robustness to disorder. Finally, we demonstrate how the snake can be exploited for computation and memory. The snake enables the integration of information transmission, storage and transformation into one magnetic substrate, unlocking the potential for ultra-low power computing devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62515-1
spellingShingle Arthur Penty
Johannes H. Jensen
Ida Breivik
Anders Strømberg
Erik Folven
Gunnar Tufte
Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
Nature Communications
title Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
title_full Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
title_fullStr Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
title_full_unstemmed Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
title_short Controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
title_sort controllable gliders in a nanomagnetic metamaterial
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62515-1
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AT johanneshjensen controllableglidersinananomagneticmetamaterial
AT idabreivik controllableglidersinananomagneticmetamaterial
AT andersstrømberg controllableglidersinananomagneticmetamaterial
AT erikfolven controllableglidersinananomagneticmetamaterial
AT gunnartufte controllableglidersinananomagneticmetamaterial