Crossover from Relativistic to Non-relativistic Net Magnetization for MnTe Altermagnet Candidate

Abstract

We experimentally study magnetization reversal curves for MnTe single crystals, which is the altermagnetic candidate. Above 85 K temperature, we confirm the antiferromagnetic behavior of magnetization M, which is known for α-MnTe. Below 85 K, we observe anomalous low-field magnetization behavior, which is accompanied by the sophisticated M(α) angle dependence with beating pattern as the interplay between M(α) maxima and minima: in low fields, M(α) shows ferromagnetic-like 180° periodicity, while at high magnetic fields, the periodicity is changed to the 90° one. This angle dependence is the most striking result of our experiment, while it can not be expected for standard magnetic systems. In contrast, in altermagnets, symmetry allows ferromagnetic behavior only due to the spin-orbit coupling. Thus, we claim that our experiment shows the effect of weak spin-orbit coupling in MnTe, with crossover from relativistic to non-relativistic net magnetization, and, therefore, we experimentally confirm altermagnetism in MnTe.