Interlayer Coupling-Induced Quantum Phase Transition in Quantum Anomalous Hall Multilayers

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhou, Ling-Jie, Zhuo, Deyi, Mei, Ruobing, Zhao, Yi-Fan, Yang, Kaijie, Zhang, Ruoxi, Yan, Zijie, Tay, Han, Chan, Moses H. W., Liu, Chao-Xing, Chang, Cui-Zu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zhou, Ling-Jie
Zhuo, Deyi
Mei, Ruobing
Zhao, Yi-Fan
Yang, Kaijie
Zhang, Ruoxi
Yan, Zijie
Tay, Han
Chan, Moses H. W.
Liu, Chao-Xing
Chang, Cui-Zu
author_facet Zhou, Ling-Jie
Zhuo, Deyi
Mei, Ruobing
Zhao, Yi-Fan
Yang, Kaijie
Zhang, Ruoxi
Yan, Zijie
Tay, Han
Chan, Moses H. W.
Liu, Chao-Xing
Chang, Cui-Zu
contents A quantum phase transition arises from competition between different ground states and is typically accessed by varying a single physical parameter near absolute zero temperature. The quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect with high Chern number C has recently been achieved in magnetic topological insulator (TI) multilayers. In this work, we employ molecular beam epitaxy to synthesize a series of magnetic TI penta-layers by varying the thickness of the middle magnetic TI layer, designated as m quintuple layers. Electrical transport measurements demonstrate a quantum phase transition between C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states. For m 1 and m 2, the sample exhibits the well-quantized C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states, respectively. For 1 m 2, we observe a monotonic decrease in Hall resistance from h/e2 to h/2e2 with increasing m, accompanied by a peak in the longitudinal resistance. The quantum phase transition between C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states is attributed to the weakening of the interlayer coupling between the top and the bottom C = 1 QAH layers. Our findings provide a scalable strategy for engineering QAH devices with a tunable Chern number. This approach enables precise control and enhanced functionality in chiral edge current-based electronic devices.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_00117
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Interlayer Coupling-Induced Quantum Phase Transition in Quantum Anomalous Hall Multilayers
Zhou, Ling-Jie
Zhuo, Deyi
Mei, Ruobing
Zhao, Yi-Fan
Yang, Kaijie
Zhang, Ruoxi
Yan, Zijie
Tay, Han
Chan, Moses H. W.
Liu, Chao-Xing
Chang, Cui-Zu
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
A quantum phase transition arises from competition between different ground states and is typically accessed by varying a single physical parameter near absolute zero temperature. The quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect with high Chern number C has recently been achieved in magnetic topological insulator (TI) multilayers. In this work, we employ molecular beam epitaxy to synthesize a series of magnetic TI penta-layers by varying the thickness of the middle magnetic TI layer, designated as m quintuple layers. Electrical transport measurements demonstrate a quantum phase transition between C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states. For m 1 and m 2, the sample exhibits the well-quantized C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states, respectively. For 1 m 2, we observe a monotonic decrease in Hall resistance from h/e2 to h/2e2 with increasing m, accompanied by a peak in the longitudinal resistance. The quantum phase transition between C = 1 and C = 2 QAH states is attributed to the weakening of the interlayer coupling between the top and the bottom C = 1 QAH layers. Our findings provide a scalable strategy for engineering QAH devices with a tunable Chern number. This approach enables precise control and enhanced functionality in chiral edge current-based electronic devices.
title Interlayer Coupling-Induced Quantum Phase Transition in Quantum Anomalous Hall Multilayers
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.00117