Inducing spin-sublattice inequivalence through correlation-driven orbital order, rather than crystallographic anisotropy, has been proposed as a route to altermagnetism (AM). However, in two-orbital systems, it is blocked by the GKA rules, which favor ferromagnetic superexchange for orderly occupied orbitals. Through first-principles calculations on ${\mathrm{KCoF}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{KNiF}}_3\text{−}{\mathrm{KCuF}}_3$ superlattice, we show that the limitation can be bypassed by employing two coupled orbital subsets that separately supply the occupation-ordered orbitals and the dominant antiferromagnetic exchange contribution, establishing a minimal orbital condition for intrinsic spin-orbital AM, and reveal the distortion-insensitive finite spin splitting in ${\mathrm{KCoF}}_3$, which is distinct from extrinsic AM induced by crystallographic anisotropy. These results clarify the microscopic mechanism of spin-orbital AM and delineate a general route for realizing unconventional magnetism in correlated materials.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Altermagnetism
• Orbital order
• Perovskites
• DFT+U