{
  "abstract": "Crystal symmetry governs the physical properties of materials and provides the framework for interpreting their microscopic excitations and macroscopic responses. In altermagnets, the crystal symmetries that relate opposite-spin sublattices give rise to momentum-dependent spin splitting despite compensated magnetization. Determining the real crystal symmetry is therefore essential for understanding the intrinsic electronic and magnetic properties. For the altermagnetic semiconductor $α$-MnTe, conflicting Raman assignments have left both its intrinsic lattice excitations and its crystal symmetry unresolved. Here we combine high-resolution Raman and second-harmonic generation (SHG) spectroscopy with first-principles calculations to distinguish intrinsic lattice excitations from Te-derived spectral contributions and to examine bulk inversion symmetry of $α$-MnTe. We show that several prominent Raman features previously assigned to $α$-MnTe instead originate from segregated Te clusters or precipitates. The remaining intrinsic Raman response consists of a single Raman-active mode assigned to the calculated $E_{2g}$ phonon, consistent with the centrosymmetric $D_{6h}$ symmetry. The SHG response agrees with surface electric-dipole and bulk electric-quadrupole contributions expected for a centrosymmetric $D_{6h}$ crystal, supporting the preservation of bulk inversion symmetry in $α$-MnTe. Our findings revise the Raman assignments in $α$-MnTe and provide a basis for interpreting its altermagnetic properties within the appropriate crystal-symmetry framework.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.32261",
  "author_total": 25,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Yunpeng Cui"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shuai Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jia-Liang Xie"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jinxuan Liang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hao Lin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miao Qin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiawei Shao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gongling Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yidian Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yixuan Luo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Deng Hu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bingru Lu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hao Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiang Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tiantian Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Haodong Yu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hongyun Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shuyun Zhou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhiwei Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yanfeng Guo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tiantian Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miao-Ling Lin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ping-Heng Tan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Feng Jin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luyi Yang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/epvn5tdwa9pzm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.32261",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "epvn5tdwa9pzm",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32261",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3107|Topological Materials and Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223669000",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.32261",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/epvn5tdwa9pzm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2610.32261",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.32261"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Intrinsic Raman Modes and Crystal Symmetry of Altermagnetic $α$-MnTe",
  "title_text": "Intrinsic Raman Modes and Crystal Symmetry of Altermagnetic α-MnTe",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/epvn5tdwa9pzm",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}