P-wave Multiferroics

Altermagnets are a new class of magnetic materials possessing zero magnetization like antiferromagnets but exhibiting non-relativistic spin splitting of the electronic bands and anomalous Hall responses like ferromagnets. Recent studies have explored non-collinear non-centrosymmetric magnetic systems that exhibit odd-parity spin splitting with non-relativistic origin (p-wave magnets). Symmetry considerations suggest the possibility of coupling p-wave magnetism with ferroelectricity in polar chiral magnets, potentially allowing for novel mechanisms for electric-field control of p-wave magnetism. In this talk, I will start by discussing our optical studies of spin spiral multiferroicity in van der Waals material NiI2 down to the two-dimensional limit. I will then focus on our recent work on electrical switching of p-wave magnetism in NiI₂, and its connection to ferroelectricity and chirality. Lastly, I will conclude with an outlook for potential applications of spin-spiral multiferroics for information storage.