Band splitting in altermagnet CrSb

TL;DR

This paper investigates the unique spin splitting of electron bands in the altermagnet CrSb using magnetic groups formalism, revealing additional effects overlooked by traditional exchange approximation.

Contribution

It introduces a magnetic groups approach to analyze electron band spin splitting in hexagonal altermagnet CrSb, highlighting effects missed by standard methods.

Findings

Magnetic groups formalism uncovers additional spin splitting in CrSb.

Standard exchange approximation misses certain spin splitting effects.

The study advances understanding of altermagnetic electron band structures.

Abstract

Altermegnets are a class of metallic magnets characterized by spin-split electron bands. Like antiferromagnets they lack spontaneous bulk magnetisation. The standard description of the momentum dependent spin splitting of electron bands in altermagnets is based on the spin groups approach, which is valid when relativistic interactions are neglected. The problem of electron bands spin splitting in hexagonal altermagnet CrSb is discussed using magnetic groups formalism that allows to establish the additional spin splitting missed in frame of exchange approximation.