Tunable valley-contrasting Rashba effect and spatially disentangled photocurrents in Janus altermagnetic monolayers
Phys. Rev. B 114, 045426 – Published 23 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3r4h-zlhp
Abstract
Janus engineering provides a promising route for converting two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnets into altermagnets, yet the implications of the resulting symmetry breaking and built-in electric field remain poorly understood. Using first-principles calculations, we identify Janus (, Se, Te) monolayers as a multifunctional 2D altermagnetic platform. We find that the built-in electric field induces a valley-contrasting Rashba effect, which we elucidate through a model incorporating the second-order spin-orbit coupling term. Crucially, spin-group symmetry enforces spatial decoupling of charge and pure spin shift currents, allowing dynamic switching of their directions via light polarization. Furthermore, strain engineering drives a semiconductor-to-metal transition in telluride members, accompanied by subsequent magnetic easy axis reorientation. Our study establishes monolayers as theoretical platforms for exploring tunable optospintronic and valleytronic physics, and provides symmetry-based design strategies for future practical device applications.