Field-sensitive dislocation bound states in two-dimensional $d$-wave altermagnets

TL;DR

This paper explores how the interplay of altermagnetism and spin-orbit coupling in 2D $d$-wave systems leads to topologically sensitive dislocation bound states and Majorana zero modes, dependent on the exchange field orientation.

Contribution

It reveals the dependence of topological band structures and dislocation bound states on the exchange field direction in 2D $d$-wave altermagnets with potential experimental detection.

Findings

Band degeneracies are lifted by breaking $C_{4z}\mathcal{T}$ symmetry.

Topological indices depend on the exchange field direction.

Dislocation bound states and Majorana modes are field-sensitive.

Abstract

When a two-dimensional $d$-wave altermagnet is grown on a substrate, the interplay of momentum-dependent spin splittings arising from altermagnetism and Rashba spin-orbit coupling gives rise to a nodal band structure with band degeneracies enforced by a $C_{4z}\mathcal{T}$ symmetry. If we break the $C_{4z}\mathcal{T}$ symmetry by an exchange field, the band degeneracies are found to be immediately lifted, leading to a topological band structure characterized by nontrivial strong and weak topological indices. Remarkably, both the strong topological index and the $Z_{2}$-valued weak topological indices depend sensitively on the direction of the exchange field. As a consequence of the bulk-defect correspondence, we find that the unique dependence of weak topological indices on the exchange field in this system dictates that the presence or absence of topological bound states at lattice dislocations also depends sensitively on the direction of the exchange field. When the substrate is an $s$-wave superconductor, we find that a similar dependence of band topology on the exchange field gives rise to field-sensitive dislocation Majorana zero modes. As topological dislocation bound states are easily detectable by scanning tunneling microscopy, our findings unveil a promising experimental diagnosis of altermagnetic materials among an ever growing list of candidates.