According to Phys.org, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Okayama University, and Kyoto University have developed a theoretical framework that uses light to create non-reciprocal magnetic interactions in solids. The team, led by Associate Professor Ryo Hanai, published their findings in Nature Communications on September 18, 2025, demonstrating that carefully tuned light frequencies can induce torques driving magnetic layers into spontaneous “chase-and-run” rotations. This effectively violates Newton’s third law of motion in solid-state systems, where one magnetic layer tries to align with another while the other tries to anti-align. The required light intensity falls within current experimental capabilities, making practical implementation feasible. This breakthrough bridges concepts from active matter and condensed matter physics while opening new possibilities for controlling quantum materials with light.
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What this actually means
Here’s the thing – we’re talking about breaking one of physics’ most fundamental rules. Newton’s third law says that for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. But these researchers found a way to make magnets interact where that just… doesn’t happen. Basically, they’re using light to create a situation where magnet A chases magnet B, but magnet B runs away instead of chasing back.
Think about how weird that is. In normal physics, if you push something, it pushes back with equal force. But in this light-induced state, the magnets are playing a one-sided game of tag that never ends. The rotation just keeps going spontaneously, without any external energy input beyond the initial light pulse.
Why this matters beyond the lab
So what can you actually do with magnets that break Newton’s laws? Quite a lot, it turns out. The researchers specifically mention applications in spintronic devices and frequency-tunable oscillators. But I think the bigger picture is about control – we’re talking about using light to precisely manipulate quantum materials in ways that were previously impossible.
Look at the competitive landscape here. Companies working on quantum computing, advanced sensors, and next-generation memory technologies should be paying attention. This isn’t just academic curiosity – it’s a new tool for engineering materials with properties that don’t exist in nature. And the fact that they can do this with existing experimental setups means we might see practical applications sooner rather than later.
The bigger picture
What’s really fascinating is how this connects different fields of physics. The team explicitly mentions bridging active matter (think biological systems, predator-prey dynamics) with condensed matter physics. We’re seeing concepts from biology informing how we manipulate solid-state materials.
And here’s the kicker – they think this approach could be applied to Mott insulating phases, multi-band superconductivity, and optical phonon-mediated superconductivity. That’s basically hitting three of the hottest topics in condensed matter physics with one approach. It makes you wonder what other “impossible” physics we might be able to engineer once we start thinking outside equilibrium systems.
The real question is: how many other fundamental rules can we learn to break when we stop thinking about materials as static, equilibrium systems? This work suggests we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible when we embrace non-equilibrium physics.
