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Floquet Odd-Parity Collinear Magnets
Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 126704 – Published 26 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/7ywb-ml2q
Abstract
Altermagnets, recently discovered unconventional magnets distinct from both ferro- and antiferromagnets, have rapidly emerged as a prominent research topic in condensed matter physics. Altermagnets are characterized by alternating collinear magnetic moments with zero net magnetization in real space, and spin splittings with even-parity symmetry in momentum space. However, their counterparts exhibiting odd-parity spin splittings are generally thought to be absent in collinear magnets. Here, we show that such unconventional odd-parity magnets can be induced from collinear antiferromagnets by symmetry engineering. Remarkably, using effective model analysis within a Floquet-theory framework, we demonstrate that circularly polarized light irradiation of conventional antiferromagnetic lattices breaks a spin-preserving pseudo-time-reversal symmetry and induces both - and -wave magnets, realizing novel magnetic states dubbed “Floquet odd-parity collinear magnets.” Moreover, we also uncover light-induced antiferromagnetic Chern insulating states in the -wave magnets. The proposed Floquet odd-parity magnet is confirmed by first-principles calculations of under circularly polarized light. Our Letter not only proposes a new class of unconventional magnets, but also opens an avenue for light-induced magnetic phenomena in spintronic applications.