Quantum anomalous Hall effect in a three-dimensional topological-insulator–thin-film-ferromagnetic-metal heterostructure

Katsuhiro Arimoto, Takashi Koretsune, and Kentaro Nomura
Phys. Rev. B 103, 235315 – Published 25 June 2021

Abstract

We theoretically show that the three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI)/thin-film ferromagnetic metal (FMM) heterostructure is possible to be a quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulator with a wide global band gap. Studying the band structure and the weight distributions of eigenstates, we demonstrate that the attachment of a metallic thin film on the 3DTI can shift the topologically nontrivial state into the metal layers due to the hybridization of bands around the original Dirac point. By introducing the magnetic exchange interaction in the thin-film layers, we compute the anomalous Hall conductivity and magnetic anisotropy of the heterostructure to suggest the appearance of a wider gap realizing QAH effect than usual materials, such as magnetically doped thin films of 3DTI and 3DTI/ferromagnetic insulator heterostructures. Our results indicate that the 3DTI/thin-film FMM heterostructure may implement the QAH effect even at room temperature, which will pave the way to the experimental realization of the other exotic topological quantum phenomena.

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  • Received 9 April 2021
  • Accepted 16 June 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.235315

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Katsuhiro Arimoto1,2,*, Takashi Koretsune1, and Kentaro Nomura2,3,†

  • 1Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
  • 2Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
  • 3Center for Spintronics Research Network, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan

  • *k.arimoto@cmpt.phys.tohoku.ac.jp
  • nomura@imr.tohoku.ac.jp

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 23 — 15 June 2021

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