- Letter
Supercurrent-driven Néel torque in superconductor/altermagnet hybrids
Phys. Rev. B 114, L200502 – Published 15 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/8zh7-h5xd
Abstract
We predict a supercurrent-driven Néel spin-orbit torque in a superconductor/-wave altermagnet heterostructure, associated with the emergence of spin-triplet correlations. The effect can be understood as a consequence of the supercurrent-induced spin polarization, owing to the interplay between spin-orbit coupling and momentum-dependent spin splitting, as found, for example, in altermagnets. Remarkably, the supercurrent can be tuned by the Néel-vector direction, and the supercurrent-induced torque can both propel magnetic domain walls and reverse the Néel-vector orientation within a domain wall. These findings establish superconductor/altermagnet heterostructures as a versatile platform for the supercurrent-driven control of the Néel vector, with potential applications in racetrack memory, dissipationless superconducting electronics, and unconventional computing.