Impurity-induced Friedel oscillations in altermagnets and $p$-wave magnets

Abstract

We investigate the Friedel oscillations of the local density of states (LDOS) induced by a single impurity with both a spin-independent potential and an exchange coupling to the electrons in altermagnets and unconventional $p$-wave magnets. We identify features that make the Friedel oscillations and magnetization distinct from other materials with nontrivial spin texture such as Rashba metals. Because time-reversal symmetry is broken in altermagnets, both magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities lead to local magnetization with the spatial pattern that reflects the symmetry of the altermagnetic splitting. The period of the corresponding oscillations provides an alternative way to quantify the altermagnetic spin splitting and the shape of the altermagnetic bands. The LDOS pattern in $p$-wave magnets, which respect combined time-reversal and translation symmetries, is rich. It reveals anisotropy related directly to the spin splitting, but surprisingly also features LDOS oscillations with a doubled period in the proximity of the impurity. The latter effect is also observed in a Rashba metal with an exchange field and originates from the interplay of propagating and evanescent waves. The obtained results are instrumental for investigating altermagnets and unconventional $p$-wave magnets via tunneling probes.