Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

    Deterministic switching in altermagnets via asymmetric sublattice spin current

    Sayan Sarkar*, Sunit Das†, and Amit Agarwal‡

    • *Contact author: sayans21@iitk.ac.in
    • †Contact author: sunitd@iitk.ac.in
    • ‡Contact author: amitag@iitk.ac.in

    Phys. Rev. B 113, 155430 – Published 16 April, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kzcp-wcj6

    Abstract

    We demonstrate a deterministic switching mechanism in collinear altermagnets driven by asymmetric sublattice spin currents. Unlike conventional antiferromagnets, where combined parity-time reversal symmetry enforces purely staggered sublattice spin torques, altermagnets host symmetry-protected nonrelativistic spin splitting that produces unequal torques on the two sublattices. Using doped FeSb2 as a representative d-wave altermagnet, our Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert simulations show that these torques enable magnetic field-free and deterministic 180∘ Néel vector reversal over picosecond timescale. The mechanism is generic to even-parity altermagnets and remains effective even in centrosymmetric, weak spin-orbit coupled altermagnets, where the Néel spin-orbit torque mechanism fails. Our results establish an experimentally accessible mechanism for switching of altermagnetic order, opening pathways for realizing ultrafast, low-power altermagnet spintronic devices.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Authorization Required

    We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

    Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

    References (Subscription Required)

    Outline

    Information

    Sign In to Your Journals Account

    Filter

    Filter

    Article Lookup

    Enter a citation