Crystal Symmetry Selected Pure Spin Photocurrent in Altermagnetic Insulators

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Dong, Ruizhi, Cao, Ranquan, Tan, Dian, Fei, Ruixiang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Dong, Ruizhi
Cao, Ranquan
Tan, Dian
Fei, Ruixiang
author_facet Dong, Ruizhi
Cao, Ranquan
Tan, Dian
Fei, Ruixiang
contents The generation of time-reversal-odd spin-current in metallic altermagnets has attracted considerable interest in spintronics. However, producing pure spin-current in insulating materials remains both challenging and desirable, as insulating states are frequently found in antiferromagnets. Nonlinear photogalvanic effects offer a promising method for generating spin-current in insulators. We here revealed that spin and charge photocurrents in altermagnets are protected by spin point group symmetry. Unlike the photocurrents in parity-time symmetric materials, where spin-orbit coupling (SOC) induces a significant charge current, the spin-current in altermagnets can exist as a pure spin current along specific crystal directions regardless of SOC. We applied our predictions using first-principles calculations to several distinct materials, including wurtzite MnTe and multiferroic BiFeO3. Additionally, we elucidated the previously overlooked linear-inject-current mechanism in BiFeO3 induced by SOC, which may account for the enhanced bulk photovotaic effect in multiferroics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2412_09216
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Crystal Symmetry Selected Pure Spin Photocurrent in Altermagnetic Insulators
Dong, Ruizhi
Cao, Ranquan
Tan, Dian
Fei, Ruixiang
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
The generation of time-reversal-odd spin-current in metallic altermagnets has attracted considerable interest in spintronics. However, producing pure spin-current in insulating materials remains both challenging and desirable, as insulating states are frequently found in antiferromagnets. Nonlinear photogalvanic effects offer a promising method for generating spin-current in insulators. We here revealed that spin and charge photocurrents in altermagnets are protected by spin point group symmetry. Unlike the photocurrents in parity-time symmetric materials, where spin-orbit coupling (SOC) induces a significant charge current, the spin-current in altermagnets can exist as a pure spin current along specific crystal directions regardless of SOC. We applied our predictions using first-principles calculations to several distinct materials, including wurtzite MnTe and multiferroic BiFeO3. Additionally, we elucidated the previously overlooked linear-inject-current mechanism in BiFeO3 induced by SOC, which may account for the enhanced bulk photovotaic effect in multiferroics.
title Crystal Symmetry Selected Pure Spin Photocurrent in Altermagnetic Insulators
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09216