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Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
Orbital Altermagnetism in Two Dimensions
Mingxiang Pan1, Feng Liu2, Huaqing Huang1,3,4
1Peking University, School of Physics, Beijing 100871, China.
Physical Review Letters
|July 23, 2026
Summary
We introduce orbital altermagnetism, a novel magnetic order based on orbital motion. This phenomenon, driven by symmetry, enables new possibilities for orbital-based spintronics and magnetotransport.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Symmetry-protected magnetic orders are crucial for novel electronic functionalities.
- Spin altermagnetism exhibits unique properties arising from spin-momentum locking.
- Understanding orbital magnetism is key to developing advanced spintronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and define orbital altermagnetism, a new type of magnetic order.
- To explore the theoretical framework and experimental signatures of orbital altermagnetism.
- To investigate the potential applications of orbital altermagnetism in spintronics.
Main Methods:
- Development of a minimal tight-binding model with complex hoppings on a square-kagome lattice.
- Utilizing first-principles calculations to identify materials exhibiting orbital altermagnetism.
- Analyzing the relationship between orbital order, band structure, and material properties.
Main Results:
- Orbital altermagnetism is characterized by antiparallel orbital magnetic moments and momentum-dependent orbital band splittings.
- Staggered loop currents in the proposed model generate d-wave-like orbital-momentum locking.
- Orbital altermagnetism is observed independently of spin ordering in CuBr2 and VS2, and can coexist with spin altermagnetism in MoO and CrO.
Conclusions:
- Orbital altermagnetism presents a new paradigm for symmetry-driven magnetotransport.
- This discovery opens avenues for novel orbital-based spintronic applications, including nonlinear current-induced orbital magnetization.
- The findings provide a foundation for experimental exploration and technological implementation of orbital altermagnetism.
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