Asymmetric Scattering-Induced Neel Spin-Orbit Torque in Antiferromagnets
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866915945616769024 |
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| author | Sarkar, Sayan Agarwal, Amit |
| author_facet | Sarkar, Sayan Agarwal, Amit |
| contents | Magnetic switching in antiferromagnets relies on Neel spin orbit torque (NSOT), which originates from a current-induced staggered spin polarization of itinerant electrons. In collinear antiferromagnets, such a response requires the spin susceptibility to be odd under combined space-time inversion symmetry (PT), and is conventionally attributed to symmetric scattering processes. Here, we demonstrate that asymmetric impurity scattering generates an additional PT-odd spin polarization when coupled with the anomalous spin polarizability (ASP) of Bloch electrons. This extrinsic contribution arises from the interplay between antisymmetric higher-order scattering processes and band geometry, effectively converting an otherwise PT-even susceptibility into a staggered spin polarization. Using a minimal model of tetragonal CuMnAs, we show that this anomalous skew-scattering contribution can be comparable to, and with sufficient impurity density even exceed, the conventional symmetric scattering (Drude) contribution. Our results identify a new band-geometry-driven mechanism for NSOT and establish an efficient route for electrical control of antiferromagnets. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_18097 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Asymmetric Scattering-Induced Neel Spin-Orbit Torque in Antiferromagnets Sarkar, Sayan Agarwal, Amit Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Magnetic switching in antiferromagnets relies on Neel spin orbit torque (NSOT), which originates from a current-induced staggered spin polarization of itinerant electrons. In collinear antiferromagnets, such a response requires the spin susceptibility to be odd under combined space-time inversion symmetry (PT), and is conventionally attributed to symmetric scattering processes. Here, we demonstrate that asymmetric impurity scattering generates an additional PT-odd spin polarization when coupled with the anomalous spin polarizability (ASP) of Bloch electrons. This extrinsic contribution arises from the interplay between antisymmetric higher-order scattering processes and band geometry, effectively converting an otherwise PT-even susceptibility into a staggered spin polarization. Using a minimal model of tetragonal CuMnAs, we show that this anomalous skew-scattering contribution can be comparable to, and with sufficient impurity density even exceed, the conventional symmetric scattering (Drude) contribution. Our results identify a new band-geometry-driven mechanism for NSOT and establish an efficient route for electrical control of antiferromagnets. |
| title | Asymmetric Scattering-Induced Neel Spin-Orbit Torque in Antiferromagnets |
| topic | Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.18097 |