Linear magneto-birefringence as a probe of altermagnetism

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sunko, V., Orenstein, J.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sunko, V.
Orenstein, J.
author_facet Sunko, V.
Orenstein, J.
contents Altermagnets are a class of collinear magnets that exhibit non-relativistic spin splitting (NRSS) of electronic bands in the absence of net magnetization. Their potential to generate large spin polarization without spin-orbit coupling has created strong interest in probes that access the underlying order parameter directly. In this Perspective, we show that linear magneto-birefringence (LMB) provides a natural and broadly applicable route to detecting altermagnetic order. Building on the correspondence between the momentum-space structure of NRSS and the ferroic ordering of magnetic multipoles in real space, we demonstrate how $d$-wave and $g$-wave NRSS textures yield distinct LMB responses. We present a symmetry-based framework that identifies the optical geometries and field configurations required to isolate specific multipole components, enabling domain imaging and providing benchmarks for theoretical models of LMB.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_16421
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Linear magneto-birefringence as a probe of altermagnetism
Sunko, V.
Orenstein, J.
Materials Science
Altermagnets are a class of collinear magnets that exhibit non-relativistic spin splitting (NRSS) of electronic bands in the absence of net magnetization. Their potential to generate large spin polarization without spin-orbit coupling has created strong interest in probes that access the underlying order parameter directly. In this Perspective, we show that linear magneto-birefringence (LMB) provides a natural and broadly applicable route to detecting altermagnetic order. Building on the correspondence between the momentum-space structure of NRSS and the ferroic ordering of magnetic multipoles in real space, we demonstrate how $d$-wave and $g$-wave NRSS textures yield distinct LMB responses. We present a symmetry-based framework that identifies the optical geometries and field configurations required to isolate specific multipole components, enabling domain imaging and providing benchmarks for theoretical models of LMB.
title Linear magneto-birefringence as a probe of altermagnetism
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.16421