• Rapid Communication

Chern insulator at a magnetic rocksalt interface

Kevin F. Garrity and David Vanderbilt
Phys. Rev. B 90, 121103(R) – Published 8 September 2014

Abstract

Considerable efforts have recently been devoted to the experimental realization of a two-dimensional Chern insulator, i.e., a system displaying a quantum anomalous Hall effect. However, existing approaches such as those based on magnetic doping of topological-insulator thin films have resulted in small band gaps, restricting the effect to low temperatures. We use first-principles calculations to demonstrate that an interface between thin films of the topologically trivial ferromagnetic insulators EuO and GdN can result in a band inversion and a nonzero Chern number. Both materials are stoichiometric and the interface is nonpolar and lattice-matched, which should allow this interface to be achievable experimentally. We show that the band structure can be tuned by layer thickness or epitaxial strain, and can result in Chern insulators with gaps of over 0.1 eV.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 3 April 2014
  • Revised 25 August 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.121103

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Kevin F. Garrity1 and David Vanderbilt2

  • 1Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 12 — 15 September 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×