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The Hall effect, in which current is deflected perpendicular to an applied electrical bias, has been prominent in the history of condensed matter physics. The article describes a discovery that the Hall effect can occur in the absence of an external magnetic field or internal magnetization. This countered the fundamental understanding of this century old phenomenon and opened a way to our identification of a new elementary magnetic phase, dubbed altermagnetism, with far reaching consequences in in solid state physics and nanoelectronics.
Description
The image shows a crystal of RuO2 with opposite magnetic moments on Ru atoms depicted in purple and cyan, that result in zero internal magnetization, and the Hall transverse deflection of the electrical current in this altermagnet.
Collaborating institutions: University of Mainz, Germany; University of Texas, U.S.; University of Tokyo, Japan.
Contact person: Tomáš Jungwirth