Influence of the N'eel vector on the bulk electronic structure of MnTe measured from the (1 1 00) surface

arXiv:2610.20383 · cond-mat.str-el · Submitted 2026-10-14 · Read on arXiv

cond-mat.str-el

Submitted: 2026-10-14

Updated: 2026-10-14

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

The gist: Altermagnetism gives rise to momentum-dependent spin splitting without net magnetization.

Abstract

Altermagnetism gives rise to momentum-dependent spin splitting without net magnetization. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate bulk α-MnTe single crystals cleaved along the (1 00) plane - an orientation that preserves the compensated magnetic symmetry at the surface and substantially reduces surface effects and k z broadening. We resolve the three-dimensional bulk band structure with markedly enhanced spectral clarity. The d-wave band splitting, driven by the altermagnetic order and spin-orbit coupling in the Γ-K-M nodal plane, shows a perfect match to theoretical predictions. We further establish that the valence-band maximum occurs near the A point, identifying the corresponding hole pockets as the states governing the transport properties. Spatially resolved measurements reveal systematic variations of the band dispersion along Γ-K and A-L, associated with different pinning of the Néel vector at the surface. Our results establish a surface-sensitive route to resolving the bulk altermagnetic electronic structure of MnTe and provide direct spectroscopic evidence for Néel-vector-dependent band splitting.

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