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Spectral signatures of the surface anomalous Hall effect in magnetic axion insulators

Author

Listed:
  • Mingqiang Gu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Jiayu Li

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Hongyi Sun

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Yufei Zhao

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Chang Liu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Jianpeng Liu

    (ShanghaiTech University
    ShanghaiTech University)

  • Haizhou Lu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Qihang Liu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    Southern University of Science and Technology
    Southern University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The topological surface states of magnetic topological systems, such as Weyl semimetals and axion insulators, are associated with unconventional transport properties such as nonzero or half-quantized surface anomalous Hall effect. Here we study the surface anomalous Hall effect and its spectral signatures in different magnetic topological phases using both model Hamiltonian and first-principles calculations. We demonstrate that by tailoring the magnetization and interlayer electron hopping, a rich three-dimensional topological phase diagram can be established, including three types of topologically distinct insulating phases bridged by Weyl semimetals, and can be directly mapped to realistic materials such as MnBi2Te4/(Bi2Te3)n systems. Among them, we find that the surface anomalous Hall conductivity in the axion-insulator phase is a well-localized quantity either saturated at or oscillating around e2/2h, depending on the magnetic homogeneity. We also discuss the resultant chiral hinge modes embedded inside the side surface bands as the potential experimental signatures for transport measurements. Our study is a significant step forward towards the direct realization of the long-sought axion insulators in realistic material systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingqiang Gu & Jiayu Li & Hongyi Sun & Yufei Zhao & Chang Liu & Jianpeng Liu & Haizhou Lu & Qihang Liu, 2021. "Spectral signatures of the surface anomalous Hall effect in magnetic axion insulators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23844-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23844-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Shuai Li & Ming Gong & Yu-Hang Li & Hua Jiang & X. C. Xie, 2024. "High spin axion insulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, 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. Weiyan Lin & Yang Feng & Yongchao Wang & Jinjiang Zhu & Zichen Lian & Huanyu Zhang & Hao Li & Yang Wu & Chang Liu & Yihua Wang & Jinsong Zhang & Yayu Wang & Chui-Zhen Chen & Xiaodong Zhou & Jian Shen, 2022. "Direct visualization of edge state in even-layer MnBi2Te4 at zero magnetic field," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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