Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet

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...

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Main Authors: Šmejkal, L., Železný, J., Sinova, J., Jungwirth, T.
Format: Article
Published: American Physical Society 2017
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44178/
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author Šmejkal, L.
Železný, J.
Sinova, J.
Jungwirth, T.
author_facet Šmejkal, L.
Železný, J.
Sinova, J.
Jungwirth, T.
author_sort Šmejkal, L.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description 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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institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
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publishDate 2017
publisher American Physical Society
recordtype eprints
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spelling nottingham-441782020-05-04T18:36:58Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44178/ Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet Šmejkal, L. Železný, J. Sinova, J. Jungwirth, T. 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. American Physical Society 2017-03-06 Article PeerReviewed Šmejkal, L., Železný, J., Sinova, J. and Jungwirth, T. (2017) Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet. Physical Review Letters, 118 (10). ISSN 1079-7114 https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.106402 doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.106402 doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.106402
spellingShingle Šmejkal, L.
Železný, J.
Sinova, J.
Jungwirth, T.
Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title_full Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title_fullStr Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title_full_unstemmed Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title_short Electric control of Dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
title_sort electric control of dirac quasiparticles by spin-orbit torque in an antiferromagnet
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44178/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44178/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44178/