Work

Spin-resolved quasiparticle interference patterns on altermagnets via non-spin-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate quasiparticle interference on an altermagnetic Lieb-like lattice and show how a non-spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy measurement can yield effectively spin-resolved information. Within a four-site tight-binding model, which can be tuned between an antiferromagnetic and a Lieb-type altermagnetic state, we introduce on-site impurities at distinct sublattice sites and compute the real space local density of states (LDOS) via a Green's function approach. A Fourier transformation of the impurity-induced LDOS yields the characteristic $d$-wave spin-split Fermi surface contours of the altermagnetic phase. Notably, by choosing which sublattice the impurity is placed upon, we show that the scattering amplitudes effectively encode spin-dependent contrasts: Impurities on one of the magnetic sublattices highlights predominantly spin-up contributions along one crystallographic direction, while impurities on the other one favor the complementary spin-down channel and orientation.

Source: Physical review. B./Physical review. B

DOI: 10.1103/sg3g-crcz

Authors: Eric Petermann, Kristian Mæland, Björn Trauzettel

Institutions: University of Würzburg, Complexity, Topology and Dynamics in Quantum Matter

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Awards: G2152757567, G2158694287, EXC 2147: Komplexität und Topologie in Quantenmaterialien (CT.QMAT)