Chiral-Split Magnon in Altermagnetic MnTe

Abstract

Altermagnetism is a newly discovered magnetic class named after the alternating spin polarizations in both real and reciprocal spaces. Like the spin-splitting of electronic bands, the magnon bands in altermagnets are predicted to exhibit alternating chiral splitting. In this work, by performing inelastic neutron scattering on $\hat{I}\pm$-MnTe, we directly verified the chiral splitting in altermagnetic magnon dispersions. The lifted degeneracy of chirality is further explained by a symmetric-exchange origin. In addition, the $g$-wave magnetism was identified in MnTe.

6 pages, 3 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. This is the initial manuscript that was submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett