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Lattice-control of the chiral-orbital-current-driven colossal magnetoresistance in Mn<sub>3</sub>Si<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>6</sub>*

ORAL

Abstract

Mn3Si2Te6 is a ferrimagnetic insulator which features a seven-order-of-magnitude colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) that happens only when the magnetic polarization is absent [1,2]. Our recent studies uncover that this exotic CMR is driven by chiral orbital currents (COC) flowing along the edges of MnTe6 octahedra [3]. The COC state is shown to be strongly coupled to the crystal structure and the Mn magnetic moments. Here we report results of our studies on lattice control via both chemical (doping) and hydrostatic pressure of the COC state in Mn3Si2Te6. The studies reveal a large magnetoelastic coupling, as such expanding the unit cell enhances the COC-driven CMR and shrinking the unit cell does otherwise. The results are presented with comparison drawn with other related materials [4].

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Publication: [1] Ni, Y. et al. Colossal magnetoresistance via avoiding fully polarized magnetization in the ferrimagnetic insulator Mn3Si2Te6. Phys. Rev. B 103, L161105 (2021).<br>[2] Seo, J. et al. Colossal angular magnetoresistance in ferrimagnetic nodal-line semiconductors. Nature 599, 576–581 (2021).<br>[3] Zhang, Y., Ni, Y., Zhao, H. et al. Control of chiral orbital currents in a colossal magnetoresistance material. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05262-3.<br>[4] Zhao, H. et al. Mechanical control of physical properties in the van der Waals ferromagnet Cr2Ge2Te6 via application of electric current. Phys. Rev. B 106, L041103 (2022).

Presenters

  • Yifei Ni

    University of Colorado, Boulder

Authors

  • Yifei Ni

    University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Hengdi Zhao

    University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Yu Zhang

    University of Colorado Boulder

  • Gang Cao

    University of Colorado Boulder