arXiv subjects

Cheng-Ao Ji

Publications and source records attributed to Cheng-Ao Ji.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Universal Design Principles for High-Quality Persistent Spin Textures

Persistent spin texture (PST) describes a unique spin-momentum locking in momentum space that maintains a uniform spin orientation through portions of the Brillouin zone (BZ), enabling exceptionally long spin lifetimes which are essential for applications in spintronics. However, materials exhibiting large BZ regions of high-quality PST, characterized by minimal spin deviation and long spin lifetimes, remain scarce. Here a universal model is introduced to capture the formation of superior PST regions arising from the interplay of spin-orbit fields at different k points. Within this framework, high-quality PSTs are identified in several systems belonging to various point groups. Notably, the nonpolar-chiral compound Na2Sn2O3 exhibits ~0.02 {\AA}-2 high-quality PST region, which can be reversed by the switching of geometric chirality, while AgClO4 (D2d symmetry) exhibits a 0.016 {\AA}-2 PST region. Significantly, Na2Sn2O3 and AgClO4 host persistent spin helices with spin lifetimes of 0.5-7.4 ns and 0.9-2.5 ns, respectively, among the longest reported for PST materials. In addition, both chemical substitutions and the application of pressure are demonstrated as effective routes for engineering high-quality PST. Our findings not only establish a universal principle for high-quality PST, but also provide promising materials across various point groups for the next-generation spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Design and theory of switchable linear magnetoelectricity by ferroelectricity in Type-I multiferroics

We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of magnetoelectric (ME) coupling mechanisms in 19 altermagnetic and 4 ferrimagnetic Type-I multiferroics using electronic band structure calculations with spin-orbit coupling, a first-principles ME response framework, and spin-space-group theory analysis. We formulate a universal scheme for realizing nonvolatile ME coupling in Type-I multiferroics, where two distinct pathways emerge, each dictated by spin-space symmetry. The first pathway is associated with switching of the spin splitting or the now familiar spin-momentum locking in reciprocal space, characteristic of some altermagnetic mul-tiferroics that exhibit coexisting antiferromagnetism and ferroelectricity. The second pathway involves real-space magnetization switching via electric polarization reversal, characterized by switchable components of the linear ME tensor, despite the traditionally weak coupling in Type-I systems due to the independent origins of magnetism and ferroelectricity. We demonstrate that these two intrinsic ME coupling mechanisms are mutually exclusive and propose thermodynami-cally stable compounds for experimentation. Our findings establish general design principles for controlling robust nonvolatile ME effects in multiferroic materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Piezomagnetism-driven magnetoelectric coupling in altermagnetic multiferroic K3Cr2F7

Ferroelectric control of altermagnetism in momentum space has been studied widely, while the control of magnetism in real space of altermagnets are still rare. We present a design rule to identify multiferroicity in n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper halides. Our results show that a Jahn-Teller distortion can cooperate with oxygen octahedral rotations to break inversion symmetry, which we demonstrate in K3Cr2F7 and cation-ordered KAg2Cu2Cl7, and leads to a ferrielectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition in K3Cr2F7. Altermagnetic spin order in the ferrielectric phase of K3Cr2F7 transforms into a conventional antiferromagnetic order in the ferroelectric phase, at which strain/pressure engineered sizable changes of weak ferromagnetism can occur. Our study is not only conducive to realize strong magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroics, but also reveals more functionalities in altermagnetic materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Out-of-plane ferroelectricity, magnetoelectric coupling and persistent spin texture in two-dimensional multiferroics

Two dimensional multiferroics with out of plane ferroelectricity hold significant promise for miniaturized magnetoelectric spin-orbit transistors, yet systems combining robust ferroelectricity and strong magnetoelectric coupling are exceedingly rare. Here, we demonstrate that epitaxial strain stabilizes out of plane ferroelectricity in exfoliated two dimensional Ruddlesden Popper derivatives. The hybrid improper ferroelectric Pc phase transitions to a competing P21 phase with purely in plane polarization upon switching, accompanied by a 90 degree rotation of weak ferromagnetism. Crucially, the Pc phase exhibits altermagnetism, while P21 displays full Brillouin zone band splitting, with persistent spin textures rotating 90 degree at the phase boundary. This work establishes a pathway to engineer two dimensional multiferroics that integrate vertical polarization, magnetoelectric coupling, and switchable spin textures, key features for next generation spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗