Domains with noncentrosymmetric structural distortion in altermagnetic MnTe
Phys. Rev. B 114, 074436 – Published 26 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tsls-h6fj
Abstract
The hexagonal MnTe is a prime material candidate for altermagnets, an emerging class of magnetic compounds characterized by the nontrivial interplay of antiparallel spin arrangements with their underlying crystal structures. Recognizing precise knowledge of crystal symmetry as the cornerstone of the spin-group classification scheme, we report here an inversion-symmetry-breaking structural distortion in this compound that has previously been overlooked. Through electron microscopy, second-harmonic-generation (SHG) polarimetry, and Raman spectroscopy experiments, we show that MnTe consistently exhibits local structural domains belonging to the group, potentially resolving key inconsistencies in the earlier interpretations of Raman spectroscopy data. Our finding refines the symmetry analysis of MnTe within the altermagnetic class and sheds light on the mechanism of its magnetocontrollable Néel order.
