Optical signatures of noncentrosymmetric structural distortion in altermagnetic MnTe

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wu, Ao, Cheng, Di, Wang, Xinyun, Zeng, Meng, Liu, Chang, Li, Xinwei
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866908279675813888
author Wu, Ao
Cheng, Di
Wang, Xinyun
Zeng, Meng
Liu, Chang
Li, Xinwei
author_facet Wu, Ao
Cheng, Di
Wang, Xinyun
Zeng, Meng
Liu, Chang
Li, Xinwei
contents The hexagonal MnTe is a prime material candidate for altermagnets, an emerging class of magnetic compounds characterized by the nontrivial interplay of antiparallel spin arrangements with their underlying crystal structures. Recognizing precise knowledge of crystal symmetry as the cornerstone of the spin-group classification scheme, we report here a native inversion-symmetry-breaking structural distortion in this compound that has previously been overlooked. Through optical polarimetry experiments and first-principle calculations, we show that MnTe belongs to the noncentrosymmetric $D_{3h}$ group, effectively resolving key inconsistencies in the earlier interpretations of Raman spectroscopy data. Our finding impacts the symmetry analysis of MnTe within the altermagnetic class and sheds light on the mechanism of its magneto-controllable Néel order.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_17742
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optical signatures of noncentrosymmetric structural distortion in altermagnetic MnTe
Wu, Ao
Cheng, Di
Wang, Xinyun
Zeng, Meng
Liu, Chang
Li, Xinwei
Materials Science
Strongly Correlated Electrons
The hexagonal MnTe is a prime material candidate for altermagnets, an emerging class of magnetic compounds characterized by the nontrivial interplay of antiparallel spin arrangements with their underlying crystal structures. Recognizing precise knowledge of crystal symmetry as the cornerstone of the spin-group classification scheme, we report here a native inversion-symmetry-breaking structural distortion in this compound that has previously been overlooked. Through optical polarimetry experiments and first-principle calculations, we show that MnTe belongs to the noncentrosymmetric $D_{3h}$ group, effectively resolving key inconsistencies in the earlier interpretations of Raman spectroscopy data. Our finding impacts the symmetry analysis of MnTe within the altermagnetic class and sheds light on the mechanism of its magneto-controllable Néel order.
title Optical signatures of noncentrosymmetric structural distortion in altermagnetic MnTe
topic Materials Science
Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.17742