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arXiv · 2410.18036

Non-linear anomalous Edelstein response at altermagnetic interfaces

Mattia Trama·Irene Gaiardoni·Claudio Guarcello·Jorge I. Facio·Alfonso Maiellaro·Francesco Romeo·Roberta Citro·Jeroen van den Brink
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Abstract

In altermagnets, time-reversal symmetry breaking spin-polarizes electronic states, while total magnetization remains zero. In addition, at altermagnetic surfaces Rashba-spin orbit coupling is activated due to broken inversion symmetry, introducing a competing spin-momentum locking interaction. Here we show that their interplay leads to the formation of complex, chiral spin textures that offer novel, non-linear spin-to-charge conversion properties. Whereas altermagnetic order suppresses the canonical linear in-plane Rashba-Edelstein response, we establish the presence of an \textit{anomalous} transversal Edelstein effect for planar applied electric and magnetic field, or alternatively, an in-plane magnetization. Additionally, we predict a purely electric-field-driven non-linear out-of-plane magnetization. We compute the anomalous response within a general altermagnet $d$-wave model, with parameters extracted from the ab-initio electronic structure of an altermagnetic bilayer. Our results suggest altermagnetic surfaces as a promising platform for unconventional spintronic functionalities.

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Mattia Trama, Irene Gaiardoni, Claudio Guarcello, Jorge I. Facio, Alfonso Maiellaro, Francesco Romeo, Roberta Citro, Jeroen van den Brink. 2024-10-23. Non-linear anomalous Edelstein response at altermagnetic interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1103/sxyb-5rcy

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