Discovery of magnetic liquid crystal: First direct observation of spin quadrupole moments in a spin-nematic phase

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-discovery-magnetic-liquid-crystal-quadrupole.html

"square-lattice iridium oxide Sr2IrO4 flows like liquid, while constituent molecules aligned like solid... formation of spin quadrupole moments occurs at higher temperatures than the magnetic order. Within this temperature range, the iridium oxide has only spin quadrupole moments but no magnetic order, realizing a spin-nematic phase... quantum computing, information technologies, potential for high-temperature superconductivity"