Nanoscale imaging and control of altermagnetism in MnTe

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08234-x

Authors: O. J. Amin (University of Nottingham) , A. Dal Din (University of Nottingham) , E. Golias (MAX IV Laboratory) , Y. Niu (MAX IV Laboratory) , A. Zakharov (MAX IV Laboratory) , S. C. Fromage (University of Nottingham) , C. J. B. Fields (University of Nottingham; Diamond Light Source) , S. L. Heywood (University of Nottingham) , R. B. Cousins (University of Nottingham) , F. Maccherozzi (Diamond Light Source) , J. Krempasky (Paul Scherrer Institute) , J. H. Dil (Paul Scherrer Institut; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) , D. Kriegner (Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences) , B. Kiraly (University of Nottingham) , R. P. Campion (University of Nottingham) , A. W. Rushforth (University of Nottingham) , K. W. Edmonds (University of Nottingham) , S. S. Dhesi (Diamond Light Source) , L. Šmejkal (Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences; Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems; Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids; Johannes Gutenberg University) , T. Jungwirth (University of Nottingham) , P. Wadley (University of Nottingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature , VOL 636 , PAGES 348 - 353

State: Published (Approved)
Published: December 2024
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 36317

Abstract: Nanoscale detection and control of the magnetic order underpins a spectrum of condensed-matter research and device functionalities involving magnetism. The key principle involved is the breaking of time-reversal symmetry, which in ferromagnets is generated by an internal magnetization. However, the presence of a net magnetization limits device scalability and compatibility with phases, such as superconductors and topological insulators. Recently, altermagnetism has been proposed as a solution to these restrictions, as it shares the enabling time-reversal-symmetry-breaking characteristic of ferromagnetism, combined with the antiferromagnetic-like vanishing net magnetization. So far, altermagnetic ordering has been inferred from spatially averaged probes. Here we demonstrate nanoscale imaging of altermagnetic states from 100-nanometre-scale vortices and domain walls to 10-micrometre-scale single-domain states in manganese telluride (MnTe). We combine the time-reversal-symmetry-breaking sensitivity of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism12 with magnetic linear dichroism and photoemission electron microscopy to achieve maps of the local altermagnetic ordering vector. A variety of spin configurations are imposed using microstructure patterning and thermal cycling in magnetic fields. The demonstrated detection and controlled formation of altermagnetic spin configurations paves the way for future experimental studies across the theoretically predicted research landscape of altermagnetism, including unconventional spin-polarization phenomena, the interplay of altermagnetism with superconducting and topological phases, and highly scalable digital and neuromorphic spintronic devices.

Diamond Keywords: Ferromagnetism; Antiferromagnetism; Spintronics

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics


Instruments: I06-Nanoscience (XPEEM)

Other Facilities: MaxPEEM at MAX IV

Added On: 13/12/2024 10:28

Discipline Tags:

Superconductors Quantum Materials Physics Hard condensed matter - structures Electronics Magnetism Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy Circular Dichroism (CD) X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD)