N\'eel vector-dependent anomalous transport in altermagnetic metal CrSb

TL;DR

This study investigates the Ne9el vector-dependent anomalous transport phenomena in the recently discovered altermagnetic metal CrSb, revealing how its electrical and thermoelectric properties depend on magnetic orientation and Berry curvature.

Contribution

The paper provides the first systematic first-principles analysis of CrSb's transport properties, showing controllable anomalous Hall and Nernst effects linked to Ne9el vector orientation.

Findings

Maximal anomalous Hall and Nernst conductivities occur when Ne9el vector aligns along
/2a+b.

CrSb exhibits low magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, enabling Ne9el vector manipulation.

Berry curvature analysis explains the origin of anomalous transport phenomena.

Abstract

Altermagnets are predicted to exhibit anomalous transport phenomena, such as the anomalous Hall and Nernst effects, as observed in ferromagnets but with a vanishing net magnetic moment, akin to antiferromagnets. Despite their potential, progress has been limited due to the scarcity of metallic altermagnets. Motivated by the recent discovery of the altermagnetic metal CrSb, we conducted a systematic study of its electrical and thermoelectric transport properties, using first-principles calculations. CrSb exhibits low magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, enabling the manipulation of the N\'eel vector in CrSb films through a suitable ferromagnetic substrate. The anomalous Hall and Nernst conductivities reach their maximum when the N\'eel vector is aligned along $\frac{1}{2}$\textbf{\textit{a}}+\textbf{\textit{b}}. The origins of both conductivities were analyzed in terms of Berry curvature distribution. Our results demonstrate that CrSb provides a good platform for investigating the N\'eel vector-dependent anomalous transport in altermagnetic metals.