An international research team bringing together leading groups in the field of quantum materials, and guided by the SPIN Institute (Mario Cuoco and Luciano Jacopo D’Onofrio), in close collaboration with the teams from the University of Padova (Federico Mazzola), University of Krakow (Wojciech Brzezicki) and University of Salerno (Carmine Ortix and Maria Teresa Mercaldo), has uncovered a remarkable new phenomenon, now termed the MISOH Effect — Multipolar-Induced Spin-Optical Helicity effect.
At the heart of the MISOH Effect lies a fascinating mechanism: when circularly polarized light shines on these quantum materials, it produces spin-polarized electrons whose orientation depends directly on the light’s helicity — the “twist” or handedness of the photons. This response carries deep, hidden information about the internal electronic arrangements within the material.
What sets this effect apart from conventional magnetic responses is its origin. Rather than arising from standard magnetic order, the MISOH Effect is driven by unconventional multipolar spin–orbital correlations. Remarkably, this effect is associated with a strong and measurable optical signal, offering a direct way to probe electronic states characterized by multipolar ordering. As such, it opens a powerful new experimental window into some of the most intricate phases of quantum matter.
This discovery not only advances fundamental understanding but also opens the door to a novel field of electronics, which we propose to call multipolartronics. Unlike traditional electronics relying on charge, or spintronics that manipulate electron spin, multipolartronics harnesses the complex multipolar spin–orbital patterns that may form in quantum materials. By using light or other stimuli to control these subtle quantum states, multipolartronics could enable ultrafast, energy-efficient devices with functionalities far beyond current technologies — from highly sensitive sensors to next-generation information processing platforms.
The MISOH Effect thus establishes a new direction in both quantum materials research and electronic engineering.
The full research article can be found here:
Mazzola, W. Brzezicki, C. Bigi, et al., “Anomalous Spin-Optical Helical Effect in Ti-Based Kagome Metal,” Advanced Materials (2026): e22533. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202522533
