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arXiv · 2510.02452

Spin polarization engineering in $d$-wave altermagnets

Mohsen Yarmohammadi·Marco Berritta·Marin Bukov·Libor Šmejkal·Jacob Linder·Peter M. Oppeneer
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Abstract

Altermagnets host unconventional spin-polarized bands despite zero net magnetization, but controlling their spin structure remains challenging. We propose a multi-field approach to engineer spin polarization in $d$-wave altermagnets using gating, optical driving, and in-plane electric fields, which enable tunable and switchable polarizations along multiple directions. Optical driving induces out-of-plane ($z$) polarization, while gating and in-plane fields generate $x$- and $y$-polarizations via the Edelstein effect, all of which are experimentally detectable. We further find that spin- and band-selective doping induces chiral optical activity, a feature unique to altermagnets. Our approach provides a versatile route for full control of spin polarization in altermagnets.

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Mohsen Yarmohammadi, Marco Berritta, Marin Bukov, Libor Šmejkal, Jacob Linder, Peter M. Oppeneer. 2025-10-02. Spin polarization engineering in $d$-wave altermagnets. https://doi.org/10.1103/xt23-9pnv

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