Magnetic parity violation and parity-time-reversal-symmetric magnets

Abstract

Parity-time-reversal symmetry ($\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry), a symmetry for the combined operations of space inversion ($\mathcal{P}$) and time reversal ($\mathcal{T}$), is a fundamental concept of physics and characterizes the functionality of materials as well as $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{T}$ symmetries. In particular, the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems can be found in the centrosymmetric crystals undergoing the parity-violating magnetic order which we call the odd-parity magnetic multipole order. While this spontaneous order leaves $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry intact, the simultaneous violation of $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{T}$ symmetries gives rise to various emergent responses that are qualitatively different from those allowed by the nonmagnetic $\mathcal{P}$-symmetry breaking or by the ferromagnetic order. In this review, we introduce candidates hosting the intriguing spontaneous order and overview the characteristic physical responses. Various off-diagonal and/or nonreciprocal responses are identified, which are closely related to the unusual electronic structures such as hidden spin-momentum locking and asymmetric band dispersion.