Nonlinear Néel Spin-Orbit Torque in Centrosymmetric Antiferromagnets

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Cao, Jin, Wu, Weikang, Liu, Huiying, Lai, Shen, Xiao, Cong, Xie, X. C., Yang, Shengyuan A.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Cao, Jin
Wu, Weikang
Liu, Huiying
Lai, Shen
Xiao, Cong
Xie, X. C.
Yang, Shengyuan A.
author_facet Cao, Jin
Wu, Weikang
Liu, Huiying
Lai, Shen
Xiao, Cong
Xie, X. C.
Yang, Shengyuan A.
contents Electric control of Néel vector is a central task of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics. The major scheme so far relies on the linear Néel torque, which however is restricted to AFMs with broken inversion symmetry. Here, we propose a nonlinear Néel spin-orbit torque, uniquely enabling electric control in the vast class of centrosymmetric AFMs, where the existing scheme fails. Importantly, its intrinsic component, rooted in sublattice-resolved band quantum geometry, offers two additional advantages: It operates also in $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric AFM insulators, where linear torque is forbidden; and it has anti-damping character, making it more efficient in driving magnetic dynamics. Combined with first-principles calculations, we predict large effect in MnRh and MnBi$_{2}$Te$_{4}$, which can be readily detected in experiment. Our work unveils a new fundamental effect, offers a new strategy of electric control in AFM systems beyond the existing paradigm, and opens the door to the field of nonlinear AFM spintronics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_10333
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonlinear Néel Spin-Orbit Torque in Centrosymmetric Antiferromagnets
Cao, Jin
Wu, Weikang
Liu, Huiying
Lai, Shen
Xiao, Cong
Xie, X. C.
Yang, Shengyuan A.
Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Electric control of Néel vector is a central task of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics. The major scheme so far relies on the linear Néel torque, which however is restricted to AFMs with broken inversion symmetry. Here, we propose a nonlinear Néel spin-orbit torque, uniquely enabling electric control in the vast class of centrosymmetric AFMs, where the existing scheme fails. Importantly, its intrinsic component, rooted in sublattice-resolved band quantum geometry, offers two additional advantages: It operates also in $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric AFM insulators, where linear torque is forbidden; and it has anti-damping character, making it more efficient in driving magnetic dynamics. Combined with first-principles calculations, we predict large effect in MnRh and MnBi$_{2}$Te$_{4}$, which can be readily detected in experiment. Our work unveils a new fundamental effect, offers a new strategy of electric control in AFM systems beyond the existing paradigm, and opens the door to the field of nonlinear AFM spintronics.
title Nonlinear Néel Spin-Orbit Torque in Centrosymmetric Antiferromagnets
topic Materials Science
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.10333