Researchers at the University of Cambridge have used diamond quantum sensing to study the surface of hematite, a type of iron oxide. They observed magnetic monopoles, or isolated magnetic charges, gliding across the swirling textures of the hematite. This is the first time that naturally occurring emergent monopoles have been experimentally observed. The research also revealed a direct connection between the swirling textures and the magnetic charges of materials like hematite. The findings have implications for next-generation logic and memory applications. The study was published in the journal Nature Materials and was supported by various organizations including the Royal Society and the European Union.
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/diamonds-and-rust-help-unveil-impossible-quasi-particles