We formulate a Landau theory for altermagnets, a class of colinear compensated magnets with spin-split bands. Starting from the non-relativistic limit, this Landau theory goes beyond a conventional analysis by including spin-space symmetries, providing a simple framework for understanding the key features of this family of materials. We find a set of multipolar secondary order parameters connecting existing ideas about the spin symmetries of these systems, their order parameters and the effect of non-zero spin-orbit coupling. We account for several features of canonical altermagnets such as RuO2, MnTe and CuF2 that go beyond symmetry alone, relating the order parameter to key observables such as magnetization, anomalous Hall conductivity and magneto-elastic and magneto-optical probes. Finally, we comment on generalizations of our framework to a wider family of exotic magnetic systems deriving from the zero spin-orbit coupled limit.
@article{arxiv.2308.04484,
title = {Landau Theory of Altermagnetism},
author = {Paul A. McClarty and Jeffrey G. Rau},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2308.04484},
year = {2024}
}