# Cornell team demonstrates light-generated nanoscale magnetic fields

_Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 6:40 PM EDT · Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Cornell team demonstrates light-generated nanoscale magnetic fields — Primary](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2026/researchers-use-light-3.jpg)

Cornell researchers demonstrated a metasurface method that converts part of trapped light into localized static magnetization without external magnets or magnetic materials. A near-infrared pulse rapidly changes the refractive index of germanium nanostructures holding mid-infrared light, generating circulating free-electron currents that sustain magnetic-field hot spots. The researchers report the field lasted about 300 femtoseconds under normal conditions. The work appears in Advanced Science.

## Sources

- [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-09-generates-nanoscale-magnetization.html)

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