Magnetically controllable band splittings in Pnma ferromagnetic materials

Abstract

The manipulation of band splittings of materials is one of the central themes in spin-orbitronics. The conventional electrically or magnetically controllable band splittings are mainly categorized into Rashba, Dresselhaus, or Zeeman types. In this work, by symmetry analysis and first-principles simulations, the authors have identified a type of band splitting in $P\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}m\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a$ ferromagnets that is different from the previously known types. Such band splittings involve electronic orbital degrees of freedom and can be controllable by magnetic field.