$P$-wave Orbital Magnetism

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel concept of p-wave orbital magnetism induced by loop currents, protected by symmetry, with potential for experimental detection via orbital Hall conductivity.

Contribution

It proposes a new mechanism for p-wave magnetism based on orbital textures, expanding beyond traditional noncollinear spin textures and linking magnetism with topology.

Findings

The model exhibits Dirac points and nontrivial topology controlled by loop currents.

Odd-parity magnetism does not produce macroscopic magnetization.

Orbital Hall conductivity can serve as an experimental signature.

Abstract

Realization of unconventional odd-parity magnets usually requires noncollinear spin textures of the underlying lattice. We propose a different concept of $p$-wave magnetism that originates from an orbital texture induced by loop currents. The resulting $p$-wave orbital magnetism is protected by the combined translation and time-reversal symmetry, with even-parity components arising when the symmetry is broken. Our proposal is exemplified by a two-dimensional (2D) lattice model whose energy spectrum contains Dirac points and which is characterized by a nontrivial topology controlled by the magnitude of the loop currents. Since the odd-parity magnetism precludes macroscopic magnetization, we suggest measuring it via orbital Hall conductivity. Our work establishes orbital degrees of freedom as an additional platform for unconventional $p$-wave magnetism beyond noncollinear spin textures, as well as makes a step forward to bridging odd-parity magnetism and topology.