Néel-vector-dependent magneto-optical and spin Hall responses in altermagnetic CrSb
Phys. Rev. B 114, 204421 – Published 20 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/148w-67vq
Abstract
Altermagnets enable spin-split bands and anomalous transport phenomena with vanishing net magnetization, yet the symmetry-governed dependence of their optical and spin transport responses on the Néel-vector orientation remains largely unexplored. Using first-principles calculations and systematic magnetic point group analysis, we establish the complete response tensor forms dictated by the magnetic point group for the typical altermagnet CrSb, revealing a fundamental dichotomy: first-order Kerr/Faraday effects, governed by the antisymmetric optical conductivity, are odd functions of the Néel vector, while second-order Voigt/Schäfer-Hubert effects, determined by diagonal dielectric anisotropies, are even functions. Quantitatively, the Kerr rotation angle reaches up to , the Faraday rotation up to , and the Voigt rotation up to , with their angular dependencies following distinct symmetry patterns. For the spin Hall effect, the time-reversal-odd (-odd) and time-reversal-even (-even) contributions to the spin Hall conductivity coexist and are of comparable magnitude (). In the ground-state Néel configuration along the axis, the -even spin Hall conductivity reaches , while the -odd component is , corresponding to charge-to-spin conversion efficiencies of 1.63% and 0.52%, respectively. Notably, reorienting the Néel vector not only modulates the transverse spin Hall components but also activates longitudinal spin-current–charge-current configurations (e.g., and for ), which are strictly forbidden in the conventional spin Hall effect. These results establish a comprehensive, symmetry-governed framework for the Néel-vector dependence of magneto-optical and spin-transport responses in CrSb, offering a multidimensional response spectrum for probing the Néel vector direction.