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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Altermagnetism in Quasicrystals
Rui Chen1, Bin Zhou1, Dong-Hui Xu2,3
1Hubei University, Department of Physics, Wuhan 430062, China.
Physical Review Letters
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers explored altermagnets, materials merging antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic traits. They discovered exotic altermagnetic orders in quasicrystals, expanding possibilities beyond periodic crystals.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- Altermagnets are a novel class of magnetic materials exhibiting collinear, zero-net-magnetization spin structures alongside spin-split electronic bands.
- Their unique properties stem from broken combined time-reversal and spatial symmetries, distinguishing them from conventional antiferromagnets.
- Previous research primarily focused on altermagnetic phases within periodic crystals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of quasicrystals, which lack translational periodicity, to host altermagnetic orders.
- To explore unconventional altermagnetic phases beyond the limitations of periodic crystal structures.
Main Methods:
- Symmetry analysis was employed to understand the fundamental properties of altermagnetism in quasicrystals.
- Self-consistent mean-field theory was utilized to predict and characterize stable altermagnetic phases.
- Spectral functions and spin conductance were analyzed to identify characteristic signatures of these novel phases.
Main Results:
- Stable g-wave altermagnetism was predicted in octagonal quasicrystals, characterized by C_{8}T symmetry.
- Stable i-wave altermagnetism was predicted in dodecagonal quasicrystals, characterized by C_{12}T symmetry.
- These phases exhibit anisotropic spin-splittings and characteristic eight- and twelvefold nodal structures.
Conclusions:
- Quasicrystals offer a promising platform for realizing exotic altermagnetic orders.
- The findings provide a theoretical framework for experimental identification of these unconventional altermagnetic phases.
- This research expands the scope of altermagnetism beyond periodic materials.
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