Electrical switching of a p-wave magnet

Qian Song (), Srdjan Stavrić, Paolo Barone, Andrea Droghetti, Daniil S. Antonenko, Jörn W. F. Venderbos, Connor A. Occhialini, Batyr Ilyas, Emre Ergeçen, Nuh Gedik, Sang-Wook Cheong, Rafael M. Fernandes (), Silvia Picozzi and Riccardo Comin ()
Additional contact information
Qian Song: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Srdjan Stavrić: c/o Università degli Studi ‘G. D’Annunzio’
Paolo Barone: Area della Ricerca di Tor Vergata
Andrea Droghetti: c/o Università degli Studi ‘G. D’Annunzio’
Daniil S. Antonenko: Yale University
Jörn W. F. Venderbos: Drexel University
Connor A. Occhialini: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Batyr Ilyas: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Emre Ergeçen: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nuh Gedik: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sang-Wook Cheong: Rutgers University
Rafael M. Fernandes: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Silvia Picozzi: c/o Università degli Studi ‘G. D’Annunzio’
Riccardo Comin: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature, 2025, vol. 642, issue 8066, 64-70

Abstract: Abstract Magnetic states with zero magnetization but non-relativistic spin splitting are outstanding candidates for the next generation of spintronic devices. Their electronvolt (eV)-scale spin splitting, ultrafast spin dynamics and nearly vanishing stray fields make them particularly promising for several applications1,2. A variety of such magnetic states with non-trivial spin textures have been identified recently, including even-parity d-wave, g-wave or i-wave altermagnets and odd-parity p-wave magnets3–7. Achieving voltage-based control of the non-uniform spin polarization of these magnetic states is of great interest for realizing energy-efficient and compact devices for information storage and processing8,9. Spin-spiral type II multiferroics are optimal candidates for such voltage-based control, as they exhibit an inversion-symmetry-breaking magnetic order that directly induces ferroelectric polarization, allowing for symmetry-protected cross-control between spin chirality and polar order10–14. Here we combine photocurrent measurements, first-principles calculations and group-theory analysis to provide direct evidence that the spin polarization of the spin-spiral type II multiferroic NiI2 exhibits odd-parity character connected to the spiral chirality. The symmetry-protected coupling between chirality and polar order enables electrical control of a primarily non-relativistic spin polarization. Our findings represent an observation of p-wave magnetism in a spin-spiral type II multiferroic, which may lead to the development of voltage-based switching of non-relativistic spin polarization in compensated magnets.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09034-7

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