journal article·2025-10-31Open access

Altermagnetism in 6H perovskites

Sergey V. Streltsov, Sang-Wook Cheong

npj Quantum Materials· Volume 10· Issue 1

Abstract

The combination of a centrosymmetric crystallographic structure with local structural alternations and collinear antiferromagnetism can lead to broken PT (Parity × Time-reversal) symmetry, resulting in altermagnets with non-relativistic spin-split bands. The 6H perovskites with composition A 3 BB’ 2 O 9 exhibit unique layered structural alternations and typically adopt an antiferromagnetic ground state. Here, we report the discovery that several 6H perovskites are indeed altermagnets exhibiting non-relativistic spin-split bands. We also explore the possible presence of net magnetization due to spin-orbit coupling in these materials, as well as the manifestation of giant piezomagnetism. Since the single crystals of 6H perovskites can be readily grown and cleavable, our findings provide a new avenue to study the cleaved atomically-flat surfaces of altermagnets with advanced experimental techniques such as spin-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) or spin-resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to explore their spin splitting nature.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics · Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials · Multiferroics and related materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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