- Open Access
Constraints on superconducting pairing in altermagnets
Phys. Rev. B 112, 014516 – Published 22 July, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/zylh-rqxl
Abstract
Superconductivity in the recently discovered altermagnetic materials hosts large prospects for both fundamental physics and technological applications. In this work, we show that a characteristic spin-sublattice locking in altermagnets puts severe constraints on possible superconducting pairing. In particular, by considering the archetypical two-band model for a -wave altermagnet on a square lattice, we uncover that the most common form of superconductivity, uniform -wave spin-singlet pairing is not possible to achieve in altermagnets. Instead, we find that the most likely forms of spin-singlet pairing have - or extended -wave symmetry. We also find that the simplest form of equal-spin-triplet -wave pairing is not allowed, but only a mixed-spin-triplet -wave state can exist. We verify these constraints on the superconducting pairing also within an interaction-induced model of altermagnetism, where we further establish their validity for finite-momentum pairing. Additionally we discuss the possible pairing symmetries for odd-frequency superconducting pairing. Due to the generality of our results, they are applicable to both intrinsic superconductivity and proximity-induced superconductivity in altermagnet-superconductor hybrid junctions.
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