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arXiv · 2604.02790

A Route to Nonrelativistic Altermagnetic Spin Splitting via Ultrafast Light

Huang-Zhao-Xiang Chen·Lin-Ding Yuan·Wen-Hao Liu·Lin-Wang Wang·Jun-Wei Luo·Zhi Wang
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Abstract

We identify a nonequilibrium route for generating altermagnetic spin splitting in antiferromagnet by ultrafast light. Unlike existing strategies, this route does not require relativistic angular-momentum transfer, static symmetry breaking, or auxiliary external fields. Using real-time time-dependent density functional theory, we demonstrate in the antiferromagnetic perovskite KNiF3 that linearly polarized light can induce momentum-dependent altermagnetic spin splitting by breaking the effective time-reversal symmetry through photoexcited charge redistribution and the resulting lattice distortion. We provide a general symmetry selection rule for this route. These results establish a mechanism for ultrafast control of altermagnetism and extend its material realization into the nonequilibrium regime.

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Huang-Zhao-Xiang Chen, Lin-Ding Yuan, Wen-Hao Liu, Lin-Wang Wang, Jun-Wei Luo, Zhi Wang. 2026-04-03. A Route to Nonrelativistic Altermagnetic Spin Splitting via Ultrafast Light. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.02790

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