“Three-dimensional mapping of the altermagnetic spin splitting in CrSb” (2025), by Guowei Yang et al. Physics and Astronomy research paper. Original abstract below, unchanged. A free PDF is available.

Three-dimensional mapping of the altermagnetic spin splitting in CrSb

Guowei Yang, Zhanghuan Li, Yang Sai et al. · February 7, 2025 · Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Altermagnetism, a kind of collinear magnetism that is characterized by a momentum-dependent band and spin splitting without net magnetization, has recently attracted considerable interest. Finding altermagnetic materials with large splitting near the Fermi level necessarily requires three-dimensional k -space mapping. While this is crucial for spintronic applications and emergent phenomena, it remains challenging. Here, using synchrotron-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), spin-resolved ARPES and model calculations, we uncover a large altermagnetic splitting, up to ~1.0 eV, near the Fermi level in CrSb. We verify its bulk-type g -wave altermagnetism through systematic three-dimensional k -space mapping, which unambiguously reveals the altermagnetic symmetry and associated nodal planes. Spin-resolved ARPES measurements further verify the spin polarizations of the split bands near Fermi level. Tight-binding model analysis indicates that the large altermagnetic splitting arises from strong third-nearest-neighbor hopping mediated by Sb ions. The large band/spin splitting near Fermi level in metallic CrSb, together with its high T N (up to 705 K) and simple spin configuration, paves the way for exploring emergent phenomena and spintronic applications based on altermagnets.

Free PDF DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56647-7