Quantum-limit Chern topological magnetism in TbMn6Sn6

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2482-7

Authors: Jia-Xin Yin (Princeton University) , Wenlong Ma (Peking University) , Tyler A. Cochran (Princeton University) , Xitong Xu (Peking University) , Songtian S. Zhang (Princeton University) , Hung-Ju Tien (National Cheng Kung University) , Nana Shumiya (Princeton University) , Guangming Cheng (Princeton University) , Kun Jiang (Boston College) , Biao Lian (Princeton University) , Zhida Song (Princeton University) , Guoqing Chang (Princeton University) , Ilya Belopolski (Princeton University) , Daniel Multer (Princeton University) , Maksim Litskevich (Princeton University) , Zi-Jia Cheng (Princeton University) , Xian P. Yang (Princeton University) , Bianca Swidler (Princeton University) , Huibin Zhou (Peking University) , Hsin Lin (Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica) , Titus Neupert (University of Zurich) , Ziqiang Wang (Boston College) , Nan Yao (Princeton University) , Tay-Rong Chang (Taiwan Center for Quantum Frontiers of Research and Technology (QFort); National Center for Theoretical Sciences) , Shuang Jia (Peking University; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences) , M. Zahid Hasan (Princeton University; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature , VOL 583 , PAGES 533 - 536

State: Published (Approved)
Published: July 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 22332

Abstract: The quantum-level interplay between geometry, topology and correlation is at the forefront of fundamental physics. Kagome magnets are predicted to support intrinsic Chern quantum phases owing to their unusual lattice geometry and breaking of time-reversal symmetry. However, quantum materials hosting ideal spin–orbit-coupled kagome lattices with strong out-of-plane magnetization are lacking. Here, using scanning tunnelling microscopy, we identify a new topological kagome magnet, TbMn6Sn6, that is close to satisfying these criteria. We visualize its effectively defect-free, purely manganese-based ferromagnetic kagome lattice with atomic resolution. Remarkably, its electronic state shows distinct Landau quantization on application of a magnetic field, and the quantized Landau fan structure features spin-polarized Dirac dispersion with a large Chern gap. We further demonstrate the bulk–boundary correspondence between the Chern gap and the topological edge state, as well as the Berry curvature field correspondence of Chern gapped Dirac fermions. Our results point to the realization of a quantum-limit Chern phase in TbMn6Sn6, and may enable the observation of topological quantum phenomena in the RMn6Sn6 (where R is a rare earth element) family with a variety of magnetic structures. Our visualization of the magnetic bulk–boundary–Berry correspondence covering real space and momentum space demonstrates a proof-of-principle method for revealing topological magnets.

Journal Keywords: Electronic properties and materials; Topological insulators

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics


Instruments: I05-ARPES

Other Facilities: Beamline 10.0.1 at Advanced Light Source

Added On: 29/07/2020 11:26

Discipline Tags:

Quantum Materials Hard condensed matter - electronic properties Physics Magnetism Materials Science

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES)