Speaker
Description
Spin-split antiferromagnets have significance for antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics due to their momentum dependent spin polarization which can be exploited for the control and detection of the AFM order parameter. While many 3D antiferromagnets exhibiting non-relativistic spin splitting (NRSS) in their electronic band structure have been proposed and demonstrated, such property remains scarce in 2D systems. Here, we propose polar layer stacking of AFM-ordered van der Waals (vdW) bilayers driving the emergence of NRSS. Based on the spin-space group approach, we identify several representative vdW antiferromagnets which exhibit different types of NRSS when stacked into a polar bilayer. We demonstrate that NRSS can have both altermagnetic and non-altermagnetic origins and elucidate symmetry requirements for NRSS to be switchable by electric polarization. Potentially, the electric polarization switching of NRSS in AFM polar bilayers may be more practical for device applications than spin-orbit torque induced switching of the AFM order parameter.
