Altering 2D bilayer antiferromagnet orientation enables low-power magnetic photodetectors/ optical switches without moving parts

https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bilayer-antiferromagnet-reveals-photocurrent-flips.html

"generating directional photocurrent requires asymmetric crystal structure or external electrical bias moving electrons... bypassed illuminating quantum-geometrically driven sub-nm mechanism generating/ redirecting electricity without changing incoming light... layer-dependent magnetic order breaks symmetry required to guide electron flow, by manipulating relative spin alignment between layers... highly scalable"