Magnetic Imaging of Domain Reversal in Altermagnetic MnTe Thin Films

MnTe has been predicted and confirmed as an altermagnet exhibiting large spin-split bands.[1, 2] While altermagnetic domains in MnTe thin films have been visualized in zero magnetic field using x-ray circular and linear dichroism microscopy,[3] their reversal under applied magnetic fields remains unexplored. In this talk, we present magnetic imaging of the domain reversal process in MnTe thin films using cryogenic magnetic force microscopy (MFM). We further compare the observed domain evolution with anomalous Hall effect measurements. These results offer new insights into controlling and manipulating altermagnetic domains using magnetic fields.

[1]             Krempaský, J., et al., Altermagnetic lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy. Nature, 2024. 626(February): p. 517–517.

[2]            Šmejkal, L., J. Sinova, and T. Jungwirth, Beyond Conventional Ferromagnetism and Antiferromagnetism: A Phase with Nonrelativistic Spin and Crystal Rotation Symmetry. Physical Review X, 2022. 12(3): p. 031042–031042.

[3]             Amin, O.J., et al., Nanoscale imaging and control of altermagnetism in MnTe. Nature, 2024. 636(8042): p. 348–353.