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Spin-split magnon bands induce pure spin current in insulating altermagnets

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2025-07-08 v1 Materials Science Strongly Correlated Electrons

Abstract

Altermagnets offer a promising platform for dissipationless spin transport by combining zero net magnetization with spontaneous non-relativistic spin splitting. However, their magnonic transport properties remain largely unexplored. Here, we develop a quantum-kinetic theory for thermally driven magnon currents that cleanly separates Berry-curvature-driven intrinsic contributions from Drude-like scattering-dependent terms. Applying this framework to a collinear honeycomb antiferromagnet with anisotropic next-nearest-neighbor exchange and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, we reveal spin-split magnon bands that support both intrinsic and extrinsic spin Nernst and Seebeck currents. For realistic parameters, we predict a sizable magnon spin-splitting angle (about 3.3 degrees) and a pure transverse spin current capable of exerting a strong spin-splitter torque suitable for magnetization switching.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2507.04274,
  title  = {Spin-split magnon bands induce pure spin current in insulating altermagnets},
  author = {Sankar Sarkar and Amit Agarwal},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.04274},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

14 pages and 4 figures. We invite comments and feedback

R2 v1 2026-07-01T03:48:07.879Z