arXiv subjects

Sopheak Sorn

Publications and source records attributed to Sopheak Sorn.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Functionalization of $g$-wave altermagnets: spin-splitter effect enabled by surfaces

We investigate surfaces of a $g$-wave altermagnet(AM) and show that they provide a platform for realizing $d$-wave altermagnetism and the associated spin-splitter functionality. Using the Kubo formalism applied to a minimal slab model, we evaluate the spin-splitter effect(SSE) by computing the spin conductivity corresponding to a transverse spin current induced by a longitudinal electric field. We find a finite SSE, absent in the bulk, that emerges from surface-induced $d$-wave altermagnetism. Strikingly, the sign pattern of the $d$-wave altermagnetism on both surfaces of the slab geometry is identical to each other, leading to additive contributions to SSE from the two surfaces, with a spin-splitter angle reaching up to 15 degrees. In addition, this response is intrinsically linked to an accompanying surface-induced weak ferromagnetism, which potentially enables control of altermagnetic domains via an external magnetic field and provides a route to optimize the SSE functionality. These results can be understood in terms of a bulk-boundary correspondence between surface states and bulk altermagnetic order parameters, where the magnetic multipolar character of the latter plays a central role. Our findings strongly suggest thin-film engineering as a viable strategy to functionalize non-$d$-wave AMs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Projected altermagnetism by symmetry reduction at surfaces and in thin films

Altermagnets are a newly identified class of magnetic materials that combine vanishing net magnetization within the unit cell with spin-split electronic states. Their theoretical description relies on symmetry properties of the bulk band structure. Surfaces and thin films, however, inherently break these symmetries. Here, we investigate the consequences of such symmetry reduction for the electronic structure of bulk altermagnets near the surface and of thin films. When the surface coincides with a symmetry plane of the bulk altermagnetic order, the resulting two-dimensional Brillouin zone exhibits spin-degenerate bands, corresponding to conventional antiferromagnetic behavior. In all other cases, the symmetry of the altermagnetic order is reduced, leading to modified spin splitting. Remarkably, we discover a thin-film geometry of a $g$-wave altermagnet with a particular surface orientation that enables a $d$-wave spin splitting, which is commonly accompanied by the spin-splitter effect, suggesting the functionalization of non-$d$-wave altermagnets by surfaces. Our findings demonstrate that symmetry breaking at surfaces and in thin films fundamentally reshapes altermagnetic spin textures, providing a tunable platform for controlling spin-dependent electronic phenomena.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

The 2026 Skyrmionics Roadmap

Magnetic skyrmions and related topological spin textures have emerged as a central topic in condensed-matter physics, combining fundamental significance with potential for transformative applications in spintronics, magnonics, and beyond. Over the past decade, advances in material platforms, imaging techniques, theoretical modeling, and device concepts have established skyrmionics as a rapidly expanding field. At the same time, challenges remain in stabilizing, controlling, and integrating such textures into functional architectures, while novel phenomena such as antiskyrmions, higher-order skyrmions, hopfions, and antiferromagnetic textures arise. The 2026 Skyrmionics Roadmap represents a collective effort of many authors, providing a comprehensive perspective on the current state-of-the-art and the outlook for the coming years. In 33 focused sections, each co-authored by two researchers, we chart progress in theory and modeling, material systems, skyrmion dynamics, and skyrmion technologies. By offering a consolidated vision, this Roadmap aims to guide both fundamental research and application-driven efforts, accelerating the transition of skyrmionics from conceptual breakthroughs toward practical technologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Activation of anomalous Hall effect and orbital magnetization by domain walls in altermagnets

Altermagnets are an emerging class of unconventional antiferromagnets, characterized by a Néel ordering that does not break the translation symmetry of the underlying lattice. Depending on the orientation of the Néel vector, the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) may or may not exist. In the so-called pure altermagnets, AHE is forbidden by the magnetic symmetry. Here, we demonstrate that in pure altermagnets, the domain walls can lift the symmetry constraints, thereby activating the AHE and orbital magnetization. Taking a representative example of a rutile-lattice tight-binding minimal model in slab geometry, we use the linear response theory to demonstrate the emergence of the domain wall AHE, finding that it is closely related with the orbital magnetization, while the spin magnetization does not play a significant role. Using Landau theory, we argue that while for a random arrangement of $π$ domain walls, the contributions from the individual domain walls will cancel one another, an external magnetic field will favor domain-wall arrangements with specific chirality giving rise to a net AHE signal. Using group theory, we discuss how these findings can be generalized straightforwardly to certain other classes of altermagnets. Our work reveals a crucial role of the domain walls in the understanding of the Hall transport and orbital magnetism of altermagnets.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Topological dipoles of quantum skyrmions

Magnetic skyrmions are spatially localized whirls of spin moments in two dimension, featuring a nontrivial topological charge and a well-defined topological charge density. We demonstrate that the quantum dynamics of magnetic skyrmions is governed by a dipole conservation law associated with the topological charge, akin to that in fracton theories of excitations with constrained mobility. The dipole conservation law enables a natural definition of the collective coordinate to specify the skymion's position, which ultimately leads to a greatly simplified equation of motion in the form of the Thiele equation. In this formulation, the skyrmion mass, whose existence is often debated, actually vanishes. As a result, an isolated skyrmion is intrinsically pinned to be immobile and cannot move at a constant velocity. In a spin-wave theory, we show that such dynamics corresponds to a precise cancellation between a highly nontrivial motion of the quasi-classical skyrmion spin texture and a cloud of quantum fluctuations in the form of spin waves. Given this quenched kinetic energy of quantum skyrmions, we identify close analogies to the bosonic quantum Hall problem. In particular, the topological charge density is shown to obey the Girvin-MacDonald-Platzman algebra that describes neutral modes of the lowest Landau level in the fractional quantum Hall problem. Consequently, the conservation of the topological dipole suggests that magnetic skyrmion materials offer a promising platform for exploring fractonic phenomena with close analogies to fractional quantum Hall states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Antichiral surface states and Su-Schrieffer-Heeger physics in rutile altermagnets

We study surface states and domain wall bound states in altermagnets using a rutile-lattice tight-binding model of electrons coupled to a Néel order. We discover that two symmetry-protected Weyl nodal lines in the bulk band structure can give rise to unconventional anti-chiral surface states -- surface states from opposite surfaces propagate in a \emph{parallel} manner, as opposed to the anti-parallel manner for the more conventional chiral surface states. We also find that the anti-chiral surface states can be turned into chiral surface states upon changing the surface termination. The origin of the surface states, the dependence on the surface termination, and key features of domain wall bound states are explained using a map from the altermagnet to a family of a modified Su-Schrieffer-Heeger(SSH) chain and the associated bulk-boundary correspondence. Our work reveals rutile altermagnets as a promising candidate among very few quantum materials that can support anti-chiral surface states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Signatures of hidden octupolar order from nonlinear Hall effects

Detecting symmetry-breaking hidden orders with conventional probes has been a long-standing challenge in the field of magnetism. Higher-rank multipolar ordering $-$ anisotropic charge and magnetization distributions arising from a combination of spin-orbit coupling and crystalline environments $-$ is a quintessential example of such hidden orders, where new protocols of direct detection remain highly desirable. In this work, we propose non-linear Hall effects as a novel probe for multipolar ordering in metallic systems. Taking inspiration from the family of Pr-based heavy-fermion compounds, Pr(Ti,V)$_2$Al$_{20}$, we formulate a minimal cubic-lattice model of conduction electrons coupled to a ferro-octupolar order parameter. The time-reversal-breaking order leads to a band structure that supports strong quadrupolar moments of the Berry curvature (BC). Using a semi-classical Boltzmann formalism in conjunction with a symmetry analysis, we demonstrate that the BC quadrupoles produce a third harmonic generation of the Hall voltage $[V_H(3 ω)]$ measurable in an AC Hall experiment. Properties of the Hall response such as its anisotropy, its dissipationlessness, and its dependence on the order parameter are also examined. Our work encourages a new realm of investigation of multipolar ordering from non-linear transport experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Tuning the nontrivial topological properties of the Weyl semimetal CeAlSi

In the ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlSi both space-inversion and time-reversal symmetries are broken. We use external pressure as an effective tuning parameter and relate three observations to the presence of a nontrivial topology in its ferromagnetic regime: an exceptional temperature response of the quantum oscillations amplitude, the presence of an anomalous Hall effect (AHE), and the existence of an unusual loop Hall effect (LHE). We find a suppression of the AHE and the LHE with increasing pressure, while the Curie temperature is enhanced. The magnetic structure and the electronic bands exhibit only a negligible pressure effect suggesting the importance of the domain wall landscape for the topological behavior in CeAlSi.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Resonant optical topological Hall conductivity from skyrmions

We study the high frequency Hall conductivity in a two-dimensional (2D) model of conduction electrons coupled to a background magnetic skyrmion texture via an effective Hund's coupling term. For an ordered skyrmion crystal, a Kubo formula calculation using the basis of skyrmion crystal Chern bands reveals a resonant Hall response at a frequency set by the Hund's coupling: $\hbarω_{\text{res}} \approx J_H$. A complementary real-space Kubo formula calculation for an isolated skyrmion in a box reveals a similar resonant Hall response. A linear relation between the area under the Hall resonant curve and the skyrmion density is discovered numerically and is further elucidated using a gradient expansion which is valid for smooth textures and a local approximation based on a spin-trimer calculation. We point out the issue of distinguishing this skyrmion contribution from a similar feature arising from spin-orbit interactions, as demonstrated in a model for Rashba spin-orbit coupled electrons in a collinear ferromagnet, which is analogous to the difficulty of unambiguously separating the d.c. topological Hall effect from the anomalous Hall effect. The resonant feature in the high frequency topological Hall effect is proposed to provide a potentially useful local optical signature of skyrmions via probes such as scanning magneto-optical Kerr microscopy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Tunable skyrmion crystals and topological quantum oscillations in magnetic metals

Skyrmions are spatially localized magnetic swirls which carry a nonzero integer topological charge. We study crystals of skyrmions in a two-dimensional ferromagnet model with chiral interactions induced by the presence of broken inversion symmetry. We show that non-linear quartic mode-coupling terms allowed by symmetry enhances the Zeeman-field range over which the skyrmion-crystal phase remains stable. Furthermore, it leads to a significant dependence of the lattice constant of this spin crystal over this wide field range. Conduction electrons coupled to such a tunable spin crystal are shown to experience a Berry-flux density which varies with the Zeeman field. Such tunable skyrmion crystals provide a distinct realization of a Berry-Hofstadter butterfly, resulting in a phenomenon we term "topological quantum oscillations" in the electronic density of states and associated observables.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Nematic order driven by superconducting correlations

The interplay of nematicity and superconductivity has been observed in a wide variety of quantum materials. To explore this interplay, we consider a two-dimensional (2D) array of nematogens, local droplets with $Z_3$ nematicity, coupled to a network of Josephson junction wires. Using finite temperature classical Monte Carlo simulations, we elucidate the phase diagram of this model and show that the development of superconducting correlations and the directional delocalization of Cooper pairs can promote nematogen ordering, resulting in long-range nematic order. We obtain the transport properties of our model within an effective resistor network picture. We discuss these ideas in the context of the 2D electron gas at the (111) KTaO$_3$ interface and the doped topological insulators Nb$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$ and Cu$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$. Our work makes contact with Phil Anderson's numerous contributions to broken symmetries driven by the saving of kinetic energy, including double exchange ferromagnetism and the interlayer tunneling theory of high $T_c$ superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Domain wall skew scattering in ferromagnetic Weyl metals

We study transport in the presence of magnetic domain walls (DWs) in a lattice model of ferromagnetic type-I Weyl metals. We compute the diagonal and Hall conductivities in the presence of a DW, using both Kubo and Landauer formalisms, and uncover the effect of DW scattering. When the Fermi level lies near Weyl points, we find a strong skew scattering at the DW which leads to a significant additional Hall effect. We estimate the average Hall resistivity for multi-domain configurations and identify the limit where the DW scattering contribution becomes significant. We show that a continuum model obtained by linearizing the lattice dispersion around the Weyl points does not correctly capture this DW physics. Going beyond the linearized theory, and incorporating leading curvature terms, leads to a semi-quantitative agreement with our lattice model results. Our results are relevant for experiments on the Hall resistivity of spin-orbit coupled ferromagnets, which can have Weyl points near the Fermi energy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Anomalous Kerr Effect in SrRuO$_3$ Thin Films

We study the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) in SrRuO$_3$ thin films, uncovering wide regimes of wavelength, temperature, and magnetic field where the Kerr rotation is not simply proportional to the magnetization but instead displays two-component behavior. One component of the MOKE signal tracks the average magnetization, while the second "anomalous" component bears a resemblance to anomalies in the Hall resistivity which have been previously reported in skyrmion materials. We present a theory showing that the MOKE anomalies arise from the non-monotonic relation between the Kerr angle and the magnetization, when we average over magnetic domains which proliferate near the coercive field. Our results suggest that inhomogeneous domain formation, rather than skyrmions, may provide a common origin for the observed MOKE and Hall resistivity anomalies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Bilayer Haldane model: From trivial band insulator to fractionalized quantum anomalous Hall insulator

Motivated by work on the bulk topological proximity effect and the topological bootstrap, we consider two coupled layers of quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulators with opposite signs of time-reversal breaking, which leads to a trivial band insulator at half-filling. We study the impact of interactions in this model within slave rotor theory, which leads to a layer-selective Mott transition, resulting in a fractionalized quantum anomalous Hall insulator QAH$^*$ where a Chern band insulator coexists with a chiral spin liquid. We also compute the edge electron spectral function in the vicinity of the QAH$^*$ phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Fermionic spin liquid analysis of the paramagnetic state in Volborthite

Recently, thermal Hall effect has been observed in the paramagnetic state of Volborthite, which consists of distorted Kagome layers with $S=1/2$ local moments. Despite the appearance of a magnetic order below $1 \, \mathrm{K}$, the response to external magnetic field and unusual properties of the paramagnetic state above $1 \, \mathrm{K}$ suggest possible realization of exotic quantum phases. Motivated by these discoveries, we investigate possible spin liquid phases with fermionic spinon excitations in a non-symmorphic version of the Kagome lattice, which belongs to the two-dimensional crystallographic group $p2gg$. This non-symmorphic structure is consistent with the spin model obtained in the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Using projective symmetry group (PSG) analysis and fermionic parton mean field theory, we identify twelve distinct $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid states, four of which are found to have correspondence in the eight Schwinger boson spin liquid states we classified earlier. We focus on the four fermionic states with bosonic counterpart and find that the spectrum of their corresponding root $U(1)$ states feature spinon Fermi surface. The existence of spinon Fermi surface in candidate spin liquid states may offer a possible explanation of the finite thermal Hall conductivity observed in Volborthite.

cond-mat.str-el↗