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Scaling behavior of the quantum phase transition from a quantum-anomalous-Hall insulator to an axion insulator

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyu Wu

    (Peking University)

  • Di Xiao

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Chui-Zhen Chen

    (Soochow University)

  • Jian Sun

    (Peking University)

  • Ling Zhang

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Moses H. W. Chan

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Nitin Samarth

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • X. C. Xie

    (Peking University
    Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xi Lin

    (Peking University
    Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Cui-Zu Chang

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

Abstract

The phase transitions from one plateau to the next plateau or to an insulator in quantum Hall and quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) systems have revealed universal scaling behaviors. A magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transition from a QAH insulator to an axion insulator was recently demonstrated in magnetic topological insulator sandwich samples. Here, we show that the temperature dependence of the derivative of the longitudinal resistance on magnetic field at the transition point follows a characteristic power-law that indicates a universal scaling behavior for the QAH to axion insulator phase transition. Similar to the quantum Hall plateau to plateau transition, the QAH to axion insulator transition can also be understood by the Chalker–Coddington network model. We extract a critical exponent κ ~ 0.38 ± 0.02 in agreement with recent high-precision numerical results on the correlation length exponent of the Chalker–Coddington model at ν ~ 2.6, rather than the generally-accepted value of 2.33.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyu Wu & Di Xiao & Chui-Zhen Chen & Jian Sun & Ling Zhang & Moses H. W. Chan & Nitin Samarth & X. C. Xie & Xi Lin & Cui-Zu Chang, 2020. "Scaling behavior of the quantum phase transition from a quantum-anomalous-Hall insulator to an axion insulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18312-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18312-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Peng Deng & Peng Zhang & Christopher Eckberg & Su Kong Chong & Gen Yin & Eve Emmanouilidou & Xiaoyu Che & Ni Ni & Kang L. Wang, 2023. "Quantized resistance revealed at the criticality of the quantum anomalous Hall phase transitions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Deyi Zhuo & Zi-Jie Yan & Zi-Ting Sun & Ling-Jie Zhou & Yi-Fan Zhao & Ruoxi Zhang & Ruobing Mei & Hemian Yi & Ke Wang & Moses H. W. Chan & Chao-Xing Liu & K. T. Law & Cui-Zu Chang, 2023. "Axion insulator state in hundred-nanometer-thick magnetic topological insulator sandwich heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Muslim, Roni & NQZ, Rinto Anugraha & Khalif, Muhammad Ardhi, 2024. "Mass media and its impact on opinion dynamics of the nonlinear q-voter model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 633(C).

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