The odd-parity altermagnetism: A spin group study

TL;DR

This paper uses spin-group symmetry analysis to identify conditions for odd-parity altermagnetism in collinear antiferromagnets, linking symmetry criteria to specific types of odd-parity spin splitting.

Contribution

It establishes the standard conditions for odd-parity ALM emergence and demonstrates their realization using the Haldane-Hubbard model.

Findings

Odd-parity ALM arises from specific symmetry-breaking conditions.

Symmetry $[C_{2}||ar{E}]$ or $[C_{2}||M]$ connects opposite-spin sublattices.

Haldane-Hubbard model confirms odd-parity spin splitting in collinear ALM.

Abstract

Following recent intensive studies on altermagnetism(ALM) characterized by non-relativistic even-parity spin splitting, realizing unconventional odd-parity magnetism has also attracted increasing interest. Here, using symmetry arguments based on spin-group analyses, we elucidate sufficient conditions for the emergence of odd-parity spin splitting in collinear antiferromagnetic systems, which is further established as the standard odd-parity ALM. It is derived that the odd-parity ALM arises from the following criteria: (i)the breaking nonmagnetic time reversal symmetry(TRS), i.e., the breaking real-space TRS; (ii)the long-range collinear compensated magnetism; (iii)the symmetry $[C_{2}||\bar{E}]$ or $[C_{2}||M]$ connecting opposite-spin sublattices, where $C_{2}$, $\bar{E}$, and $M$ respectively represent a $180^{\circ}$ rotation around the axis perpendicular to spins, the inversion, and the mirror reflection separating opposite-spin sublattices, directly reflecting the high-order harmonic($l\ge3$) and the $p$-wave($l=1$) odd-parity ALM, respectively. Moreover, we utilize the well-known Haldane-Hubbard model to identify odd-parity spin splitting in the collinear ALM ground state, where (i)the nonmagnetic TRS is broken by opposite sublattice currents coming from the Haldane hopping; (ii)the symmetry $[C_{2}||\bar{E}]$ is ensured because the currents flowing on opposite-spin sublattices are reversed.