Abstract
Crystal symmetry guides the development of condensed matter. The unique crystal symmetry connecting magnetic sublattices not only distinguishes altermagnetism1,2,3,4,5,6 from ferromagnetism and conventional antiferromagnetism but also enables it to combine the advantages of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism4,5. Altermagnetic order is essentially a magnetic crystal order7, determined by the magnetic-order (Néel) vector and crystal symmetry. Previous experimental studies have concentrated on manipulating the altermagnetic symmetry by tuning the Néel vector orientations8,9,10,11,12. However, manipulation of the crystal symmetry, which holds great promise for manipulating the altermagnetic order, remains challenging. Here we realize the manipulation of altermagnetic order in chromium antimonide (CrSb) films via crystal symmetry. The locking between the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya vector and the magnetic space symmetry helps to reconstruct the altermagnetic order, from a collinear Néel vector to a canted one. It generates a room-temperature spontaneous anomalous Hall effect in an altermagnet. The relative direction between the current-induced spin polarization and the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya vector determines the switching modes of altermagnetic order, that is, parallel for the field-assisted mode in CrSb\((1\bar{1}00)\)/Pt and non-parallel for the field-free mode in W/CrSb\((11\bar{2}0)\). The Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya vector induces an asymmetric energy barrier in the field-assisted mode and generates an asymmetric driving force in the field-free mode. In particular, the latter is guaranteed by the emerging Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya torque in altermagnets. Reconstructing crystal symmetry adds a new twist to the manipulation of altermagnetic order. It not only underpins the magnetic-memory and nano-oscillator technology4,5 but also inspires crossover studies between altermagnetism and other research topics.
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Acknowledgements
We thank J. Han for discussion. This experimental part is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 52225106, 12241404, T2394471 and 12022416), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant numbers 2022YFA1402603 and 2021YFB3601301), the Open Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Spintronics Devices and Technologies (grant number SPL-2401), the Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Advmat-2410) and the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (16303821, 16306722 and 16304523).
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C.S. and Z.Z. designed the experiments and proposed the theoretical mechanisms for the two spin–orbit torque switching modes. Z.Z. prepared the samples, carried out transport measurements, made the theoretical analysis about the exchange-coupling torques, performed the simulations and made a list of material candidates. Z.Z., X.C. and M.H. carried out the symmetry analysis. X.C. and M.H. performed the first-principles calculations. R.C. prepared the devices. J.L., F.P., H.B., L.H. and R.C. analysed the data of microstructural characterizations and provided valuable suggestions. This work was conceived, led, coordinated and guided by C.S. and F.P. All the authors contributed to the writing of the paper.
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Extended data figures and tables
Extended Data Fig. 1 Switching configurations for the electrical 180° reversal of altermagnetic order.
a, Measurement set-up for the electrical switching experiments. b, Dependence of ΔEDM on the direction of n and on the relative direction between p and D. Note that p has a component that is orthogonal to n here.
Extended Data Fig. 2 Altermagnetic anomalous Hall effect of CrSb films.
a, Anomalous Hall resistance (RAH) of CrSb\((1\bar{1}00)\) film (configuration II) at different temperatures. b, Dependence of RAH on temperature for CrSb\((11\bar{2}0)\) film (configuration III). c, Temperature dependence of the coercive field of RAH in CrSb\((1\bar{1}00)\) film (configuration II). d, Temperature dependent coercive field of RAH for CrSb\((11\bar{2}0)\) (configuration III).
Extended Data Fig. 3 Schematic of the rotation of the Néel vector under the current-induced spin polarization and the exchange-coupling torques in different configurations.
TexA(B) represents the exchange-coupling torque exerted onto the magnetic sublattice mA(B). TexA(B) = TJA(B) + TDMA(B), where TJA(B) and TDMA(B) represent the antiferromagnetic exchange-coupling torque and DM torque, respectively. Noted that a type of exchange-coupling torque can be viewed as the driving force, only when it has a component that is orthogonal to both n and p and meanwhile the driving torques exerted on the two magnetic sublattices are orientated along the opposite direction. a, Configuration where D = 0. b, Configuration where p is parallel to D. c, Configuration where p is orthogonal to D.
Extended Data Fig. 4 Normalized RAH-J curve under zero external magnetic field in CrSb\(({\bf{1}}\bar{{\bf{1}}}{\bf{00}})\)/Pt.
RAH is normalized by the zero-field anomalous Hall resistance and J represents the current density in the heavy metal layer. a, Electric current is applied parallel to CrSb[0001], thus it is denoted as J[0001]. b, Electric current is applied parallel to CrSb\([11\bar{2}0]\).
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Zhou, Z., Cheng, X., Hu, M. et al. Manipulation of the altermagnetic order in CrSb via crystal symmetry. Nature 638, 645–650 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08436-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08436-3
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