Altermagnetic lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy

J. Krempaský (), L. Šmejkal, S. W. D’Souza, M. Hajlaoui, G. Springholz, K. Uhlířová, F. Alarab, P. C. Constantinou, V. Strocov, D. Usanov, W. R. Pudelko, R. González-Hernández, A. Birk Hellenes, Z. Jansa, H. Reichlová, Z. Šobáň, R. D. Gonzalez Betancourt, P. Wadley, J. Sinova, D. Kriegner, J. Minár (), J. H. Dil and T. Jungwirth ()
Additional contact information
J. Krempaský: Paul Scherrer Institut
L. Šmejkal: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
S. W. D’Souza: University of West Bohemia
M. Hajlaoui: Johannes Kepler University of Linz
G. Springholz: Johannes Kepler University of Linz
K. Uhlířová: Charles University
F. Alarab: Paul Scherrer Institut
P. C. Constantinou: Paul Scherrer Institut
V. Strocov: Paul Scherrer Institut
D. Usanov: Paul Scherrer Institut
W. R. Pudelko: Paul Scherrer Institut
R. González-Hernández: Universidad del Norte
A. Birk Hellenes: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Z. Jansa: University of West Bohemia
H. Reichlová: Czech Academy of Sciences
Z. Šobáň: Czech Academy of Sciences
R. D. Gonzalez Betancourt: Czech Academy of Sciences
P. Wadley: University of Nottingham
J. Sinova: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
D. Kriegner: Czech Academy of Sciences
J. Minár: University of West Bohemia
J. H. Dil: Paul Scherrer Institut
T. Jungwirth: Czech Academy of Sciences

Nature, 2024, vol. 626, issue 7999, 517-522

Abstract: Abstract Lifted Kramers spin degeneracy (LKSD) has been among the central topics of condensed-matter physics since the dawn of the band theory of solids1,2. It underpins established practical applications as well as current frontier research, ranging from magnetic-memory technology3–7 to topological quantum matter8–14. Traditionally, LKSD has been considered to originate from two possible internal symmetry-breaking mechanisms. The first refers to time-reversal symmetry breaking by magnetization of ferromagnets and tends to be strong because of the non-relativistic exchange origin15. The second applies to crystals with broken inversion symmetry and tends to be comparatively weaker, as it originates from the relativistic spin–orbit coupling (SOC)16–19. A recent theory work based on spin-symmetry classification has identified an unconventional magnetic phase, dubbed altermagnetic20,21, that allows for LKSD without net magnetization and inversion-symmetry breaking. Here we provide the confirmation using photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. We identify two distinct unconventional mechanisms of LKSD generated by the altermagnetic phase of centrosymmetric MnTe with vanishing net magnetization20–23. Our observation of the altermagnetic LKSD can have broad consequences in magnetism. It motivates exploration and exploitation of the unconventional nature of this magnetic phase in an extended family of materials, ranging from insulators and semiconductors to metals and superconductors20,21, that have been either identified recently or perceived for many decades as conventional antiferromagnets21,24,25.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06907-7

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