Electric Control of Dirac Quasiparticles by Spin-Orbit Torque in an Antiferromagnet

L. Šmejkal, J. Železný, J. Sinova, and T. Jungwirth
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 106402 – Published 6 March 2017

Abstract

Spin orbitronics and Dirac quasiparticles are two fields of condensed matter physics initiated independently about a decade ago. Here we predict that Dirac quasiparticles can be controlled by the spin-orbit torque reorientation of the Néel vector in an antiferromagnet. Using CuMnAs as an example, we formulate symmetry criteria allowing for the coexistence of topological Dirac quasiparticles and Néel spin-orbit torques. We identify the nonsymmorphic crystal symmetry protection of Dirac band crossings whose on and off switching is mediated by the Néel vector reorientation. We predict that this concept verified by minimal model and density functional calculations in the CuMnAs semimetal antiferromagnet can lead to a topological metal-insulator transition driven by the Néel vector and to the topological anisotropic magnetoresistance.

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  • Received 27 October 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.106402

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

L. Šmejkal1,2,3, J. Železný4,1, J. Sinova2,1, and T. Jungwirth1,5

  • 1Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Cukrovarnická 10, 162 53 Praha 6, Czech Republic
  • 2Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
  • 3Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, Ke Karlovu 3, 121 16 Prague 2, Czech Republic
  • 4Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Strasse 40, D-01187 Dresden, Germany
  • 5School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 10 — 10 March 2017

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