Raytraced scene showing a ball-and-stick model of a manganese antimonide surface, resting upon a scientific journal article discussing its properties. This, in turn, sits on a wooden table-top, along with a pencil and a glass of water. The top layer of the model crystal is host to a pair of globular shapes in polished chrome, which represent quantum mechanical orbitals relating to surface-localised electronic states calculated by first-principles methods.

One from the archives: surface-localised electronic states of MnSb (manganese antimonide). Based on calculations reported by Mollet & Jenkins, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2007) 19, 315214. #Orbitals #Surfaces #SurfaceScience #HalfMetals #Magnetism #ChemSky #CompChemSky #Povray

High-brilliance synchrotron radiation helps identify best composition for half-metal alloys Half-metals are unique magnetic compounds that have been attracting interest in the development of mass-storage technologies. Some of the materials in the family of Heusler alloys were predicted to have a half-metallic nature, but their half-metallic electronic structure varies with their composition ratio and atomic ordered structure.

Mysterious Half-Metals: Unlocking secrets of magnetism & mass storage technologies! #HalfMetals #MagneticMaterials #TechInnovation

Source: phys.org/news/2025-01-high-brilli...