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arXiv · 2606.31241

Symmetry-Enforced Ferroelectric Switching of Two-Dimensional Altermagnetism

Jiangyu Zhao·Yibo Liu·Guoli Wu·Xinru Li·Ying Dai·Baibiao Huang·Yandong Ma
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Abstract

Altermagnetism features strong momentum-dependent spin splitting despite zero net magnetization, offering a transformative platform for next-generation spintronics. However, the nonvolatile and deterministic switching between its two equivalent spin-splitting states remains a fundamental bottleneck. Here, we propose a universal layer-engineering paradigm to achieve symmetry-enforced ferroelectric switching of two-dimensional altermagnetism. By sandwiching a conventional antiferromagnetic monolayer between two identical ferroelectric layers, the out-of-plane polarization cleanly breaks the spatial symmetry to induce robust altermagnetic splitting. Crucially, the global combined parity-time symmetry dictates that reversing the ferroelectric polarization exactly inverts the altermagnetic spin-splitting pattern. We rigorously validate this mechanism in the In2Se3/MnPTe3/In2Se3 trilayer using first-principles calculations. As a direct consequence, the ferroelectrically driven spin-splitting reversal deterministically flips the anomalous Hall effect signal, providing an unambiguous transport fingerprint to electrically distinguish the two altermagnetic states. Unconstrained by the stringent symmetry requirements of intrinsic single-phase materials, our findings establish a versatile physical framework for electrically addressable altermagnetic spintronics.

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Jiangyu Zhao, Yibo Liu, Guoli Wu, Xinru Li, Ying Dai, Baibiao Huang, Yandong Ma. 2026-06-30. Symmetry-Enforced Ferroelectric Switching of Two-Dimensional Altermagnetism. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.31241

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