Néel Tensor Torque in Polycrystalline Antiferromagnets (Adv. Mater. 9/2026)

Néel Tensor Torque In their Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202506462), Chih-Huang Lai, Hsiu-Hau Lin, Chao-Yao Yang, and co-workers present the discovery of the Néel tensor torque, a new symmetry-breaking mechanism arising from statistical spin correlations in polycrystalline antiferromagnets. The colorful tensor surface represents the Néel tensor extracted through machine-learning analysis, which governs field-free spin-orbit-torque switching in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet heterostructures. This finding establishes a reconfigurable and trainable magnetic memory platform bridging spintronics and artificial intelligence.