La$_2$O$_3$Mn$_2$Se$_2$: a correlated insulating layered d-wave altermagnet

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of altermagnetism in La$_2$O$_3$Mn$_2$Se$_2$, a correlated insulator with a d-wave spin splitting, supported by symmetry analysis, DFT calculations, and various experimental techniques.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of altermagnetism in a new layered oxychalcogenide, revealing a d-wave spin momentum locking and providing insights into its magnetic and electronic properties.

Findings

Confirmation of antiferromagnetic transition below 166 K

Detection of 2D short-range magnetic order above Ne9el temperature

Successful growth and characterization of single crystals

Abstract

Altermagnets represent a new class of magnetic phases without net magnetization that are invariant under a combination of rotation and time reversal. Unlike conventional collinear antiferromagnets (AFM), altermagnets could lead to new correlated states and important material properties deriving from their non-relativistic spin-split band structure. Indeed, they are the magnetic analogue of unconventional superconductors and can yield spin polarized electrical currents in the absence of external magnetic fields, making them promising candidates for next-generation spintronics. Here, we report altermagnetism in the correlated insulator, magnetically-ordered tetragonal oxychalcogenide, La$_2$O$_3$Mn$_2$Se$_2$. Symmetry analysis reveals a $\mathit{d}_{x^2 - y^2}$-wave type spin momentum locking, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Magnetic measurements confirm the AFM transition below $\sim$166 K while neutron pair distribution function analysis reveals a 2D short-range magnetic order that persists above the N\'eel temperature. Single crystals are grown and characterized using X-ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy, and microRaman spectroscopy to confirm the crystal structure, stoichiometry, and uniformity.