AL01: Altermagnetism in Copper Lands

Project Supervisor: Andrea León 

Up to two students can join this project

Altermagnetism is a recently identified magnetic phase that bridges ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. It features spin-split electronic bands without net magnetization, arising from alternating spin polarization in real space. This unconventional magnetic state has attracted growing interest for its potential impact on spin transport and quantum devices [1]. In this project, we will investigate the microscopic mechanisms that give rise to altermagnetism in two-dimensional CuX₂ (X= F and Br) systems. 

By comparing flat and structurally distorted lattice models, the student will analyze how Coulomb interactions and lattice symmetry breaking influence spin-dependent band splittings. A simplified model Hamiltonian will be constructed and solved to capture the essential physics behind this phenomenon.

Fig1. (a) Flat (AFM) and (b) tilted (AM) CuX₂ monolayers. The flat geometry preserves mirror symmetry and yields degenerate spin bands, while the tilted configuration breaks inversion and mirror symmetries through Cu–X bond rotations (ϕ, θ) and height modulation (h), giving rise to spin-split altermagnetic bands. 

[1] Šmejkal, L., Sinova, J., C Jungwirth, T. (2022). Emerging Research Landscape of Altermagnetism. Physical Review X, 12, 040501