Controlling magnetic order, magnetic anisotropy, and band topology in the semimetals Sr(Mn0.9Cu0.1)Sb2 and Sr(Mn0.9Zn0.1)Sb2

Farhan Islam, Renu Choudhary, Yong Liu, Benjamin G. Ueland, Durga Paudyal, Thomas Heitmann, Robert J. McQueeney, and David Vaknin
Phys. Rev. B 102, 085130 – Published 14 August 2020

Abstract

Neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies show that orthorhombic single-crystals of topological semimetals Sr(Mn0.9Cu0.1)Sb2 and Sr(Mn0.9Zn0.1)Sb2 undergo three-dimensional C-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of the Mn2+ moments at TN=200±10 and 210±12 K, respectively, significantly lower than that of the parent SrMnSb2 with TN=297±3 K. Magnetization versus applied magnetic field (perpendicular to MnSb planes) below TN exhibits slightly modified de Haas van Alphen oscillations for the Zn-doped crystal as compared to that of the parent compound. By contrast, the Cu-doped system does not show de Haas van Alphen magnetic oscillations, suggesting that either Cu substitution for Mn changes the electronic structure of the parent compound substantially, or that the Cu sites are strong scatterers of carriers that significantly shorten their mean free path thus diminishing the oscillations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations including spin-orbit coupling predict the C-type AFM state for the parent, Cu-, and Zn-doped systems and identify the a-axis (i.e., perpendicular to the Mn layer) as the easy magnetization direction in the parent and 12.5% of Cu or Zn substitutions. In contrast, 25% of Cu content changes the easy magnetization to the b-axis (i.e., within the Mn layer). We find that the incorporation of Cu and Zn in SrMnSb2 tunes electronic bands near the Fermi level resulting in different band topology and semimetallicity. The parent and Zn-doped systems have coexistence of electron and hole pockets with opened Dirac cone around the Y-point whereas the Cu-doped system has dominant hole pockets around the Fermi level with a distorted Dirac cone. The tunable electronic structure may point out possibilities of rationalizing the experimentally observed de Haas van Alphen magnetic oscillations.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
2 More
  • Received 12 June 2020
  • Revised 28 July 2020
  • Accepted 29 July 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.102.085130

©2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Farhan Islam1, Renu Choudhary1, Yong Liu1,2, Benjamin G. Ueland1, Durga Paudyal1, Thomas Heitmann3, Robert J. McQueeney4, and David Vaknin4,*

  • 1Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
  • 2Crystal Growth Facility, Institute of Physics, The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • 3The Missouri Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
  • 4Ames Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA

  • *vaknin@ameslab.gov

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2020

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

×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×