Strain control of magnetic domain structures in altermagnet hematite

In this proposal, we aim to investigate the effect of strain on the domain structures of altermagnetic hematite. Strain is expected to alter the direction of the Néel vector due to magnetoelastic coupling. A key objective of this study is to explore how strain-induced absolute changes in the Néel vector affect the XMCD signal. We anticipate that applying uniaxial strain in a specific direction could induce a transition from an altermagnetic to an uncompensated state in hematite, which would be observable through a comparison of XMLD and XMCD signals. Subsequently, an external magnetic field or current pulses could drive domain wall motion via the net moment in the uncompensated system, ultimately enabling monodomainization in hematite. By analyzing domain structure imaging and XMCD signal variations when applying strain, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how strain influences the Néel vector and different magnetic sublattices in altermagnets. This insight is crucial for advancing the fundamental understanding of altermagnetism and its potential applications.