Quantum theory of magnetic octupole in periodic crystals and application to $d$-wave altermagnets

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sato, Takumi, Hayami, Satoru
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sato, Takumi
Hayami, Satoru
author_facet Sato, Takumi
Hayami, Satoru
contents Magnetic multipoles have been recognized as order parameters characterizing magnetic structure in solids. Recently, magnetic octupoles have been proposed as the order parameters of time-reversal-symmetry breaking centrosymmetric antiferromagnets exhibiting nonrelativistic spin splitting, which is referred to as ``altermagnet''. However, a gauge-invariant formulation of magnetic octupoles in crystalline solids remains elusive. Here, we present a gauge-invariant expression of spin magnetic octupoles in periodic crystals based on quantum mechanics and thermodynamics, which can be used to quantitatively characterize time-reversal-symmetry breaking antiferromagnets including $d$-wave altermagnets. The allowed physical response tensors are classified beyond symmetry considerations, and direct relationships are established for some of them in insulators at zero temperature. Furthermore, our expression reveals a contribution from an anisotropic magnetic dipole, which has the same symmetry as conventional spin and orbital magnetic dipoles but carries no net magnetization. We discuss the relation between the anisotropic magnetic dipole and the anomalous Hall effect.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_21431
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quantum theory of magnetic octupole in periodic crystals and application to $d$-wave altermagnets
Sato, Takumi
Hayami, Satoru
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Magnetic multipoles have been recognized as order parameters characterizing magnetic structure in solids. Recently, magnetic octupoles have been proposed as the order parameters of time-reversal-symmetry breaking centrosymmetric antiferromagnets exhibiting nonrelativistic spin splitting, which is referred to as ``altermagnet''. However, a gauge-invariant formulation of magnetic octupoles in crystalline solids remains elusive. Here, we present a gauge-invariant expression of spin magnetic octupoles in periodic crystals based on quantum mechanics and thermodynamics, which can be used to quantitatively characterize time-reversal-symmetry breaking antiferromagnets including $d$-wave altermagnets. The allowed physical response tensors are classified beyond symmetry considerations, and direct relationships are established for some of them in insulators at zero temperature. Furthermore, our expression reveals a contribution from an anisotropic magnetic dipole, which has the same symmetry as conventional spin and orbital magnetic dipoles but carries no net magnetization. We discuss the relation between the anisotropic magnetic dipole and the anomalous Hall effect.
title Quantum theory of magnetic octupole in periodic crystals and application to $d$-wave altermagnets
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.21431