Storage on a computer hard drive could accelerate at least a thousand times faster, according to research from Uppsala University that was published this summer in Physical Review Letters.

The best drives of the modern computer can write a magnetic "bit" in a nanosecond, yet even this fast process can become tediously time consuming. Magnetic storage on a computer hard drive could accelerate at least a thousand times faster in the future, suggests the Uppsala research.

Known previously but not understood, how ultrafast demagnetization by laser excitation occurs has been demonstrated by Uppsala University physicists Marco Battiato, Prof. Carver and Peter Oppeneer. Using a new type of spin dynamics equations, their theory shows that magnetization can be removed within femtoseconds by a new type of spin current called supradiffusion spin current.

"We explain in detail how the degaussing takes place, and thus helps with basic knowledge of the superfluid diffusion currents which are relevant to build on the development of new hard disk technology," said Prof. Oppeneer, who led the study.

Source: Department of Physics, Uppsala University