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Electric control of a canted-antiferromagnetic Chern insulator

Author

Listed:
  • Jiaqi Cai

    (University of Washington)

  • Dmitry Ovchinnikov

    (University of Washington)

  • Zaiyao Fei

    (University of Washington)

  • Minhao He

    (University of Washington)

  • Tiancheng Song

    (University of Washington)

  • Zhong Lin

    (University of Washington)

  • Chong Wang

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • David Cobden

    (University of Washington)

  • Jiun-Haw Chu

    (University of Washington)

  • Yong-Tao Cui

    (University of California)

  • Cui-Zu Chang

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Di Xiao

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    (Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Xiaodong Xu

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

Abstract

The interplay between band topology and magnetism can give rise to exotic states of matter. For example, magnetically doped topological insulators can realize a Chern insulator that exhibits quantized Hall resistance at zero magnetic field. While prior works have focused on ferromagnetic systems, little is known about band topology and its manipulation in antiferromagnets. Here, we report that MnBi2Te4 is a rare platform for realizing a canted-antiferromagnetic (cAFM) Chern insulator with electrical control. We show that the Chern insulator state with Chern number C = 1 appears as the AFM to canted-AFM phase transition happens. The Chern insulator state is further confirmed by observing the unusual transition of the C = 1 state in the cAFM phase to the C = 2 orbital quantum Hall states in the magnetic field induced ferromagnetic phase. Near the cAFM-AFM phase boundary, we show that the dissipationless chiral edge transport can be toggled on and off by applying an electric field alone. We attribute this switching effect to the electrical field tuning of the exchange gap alignment between the top and bottom surfaces. Our work paves the way for future studies on topological cAFM spintronics and facilitates the development of proof-of-concept Chern insulator devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaqi Cai & Dmitry Ovchinnikov & Zaiyao Fei & Minhao He & Tiancheng Song & Zhong Lin & Chong Wang & David Cobden & Jiun-Haw Chu & Yong-Tao Cui & Cui-Zu Chang & Di Xiao & Jiaqiang Yan & Xiaodong Xu, 2022. "Electric control of a canted-antiferromagnetic Chern insulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29259-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29259-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yaoxin Li & Yongchao Wang & Zichen Lian & Hao Li & Zhiting Gao & Liangcai Xu & Huan Wang & Rui’e Lu & Longfei Li & Yang Feng & Jinjiang Zhu & Liangyang Liu & Yongqian Wang & Bohan Fu & Shuai Yang & Lu, 2024. "Fabrication-induced even-odd discrepancy of magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi2Te4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Dmitry Ovchinnikov & Jiaqi Cai & Zhong Lin & Zaiyao Fei & Zhaoyu Liu & Yong-Tao Cui & David H. Cobden & Jiun-Haw Chu & Cui-Zu Chang & Di Xiao & Jiaqiang Yan & Xiaodong Xu, 2022. "Topological current divider in a Chern insulator junction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, December.
    3. Su Kong Chong & Chao Lei & Seng Huat Lee & Jan Jaroszynski & Zhiqiang Mao & Allan H. MacDonald & Kang L. Wang, 2023. "Anomalous Landau quantization in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.

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