Ferroelectrically Switchable Half-Quantized Hall Effect

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Muzaffar, M. U., Bai, Kai-Zhi, Qin, Wei, Cao, Guohua, Fu, Bo, Cui, Ping, Shen, Shun-Qing, Zhang, Zhenyu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Muzaffar, M. U.
Bai, Kai-Zhi
Qin, Wei
Cao, Guohua
Fu, Bo
Cui, Ping
Shen, Shun-Qing
Zhang, Zhenyu
author_facet Muzaffar, M. U.
Bai, Kai-Zhi
Qin, Wei
Cao, Guohua
Fu, Bo
Cui, Ping
Shen, Shun-Qing
Zhang, Zhenyu
contents Integrating ferroelectricity, antiferromagnetism, and topological quantum transport within a single material is rare, but crucial for developing next-generation quantum devices. Here, we propose a multiferroic heterostructure consisting of an antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer and an Sb$_2$Te$_3$ film is able to harbor the half-quantized Hall (HQH) effect with a ferroelectrically switchable Hall conductivity of $e^2/2h$. We first show that, in the energetically stable configuration, the antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer opens a gap in the top surface bands of Sb$_2$Te$_3$ through proximity effect, while its bottom surface bands remain gapless; consequently, HQH conductivity of $e^2/2h$ can be sustained clockwise or counterclockwise depending on antiferromagnetic configuration of the MnBi$_2$Te$_4$. Remarkably, when applying interlayer sliding within the MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer, its electric polarization direction associated with parity-time reversal symmetry breaking is reversed, accompanied by a reversal of the HQH conductivity. The proposed approach offers a powerful route to control topological quantum transport in antiferromagnetic materials by ferroelectricity.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_03985
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Ferroelectrically Switchable Half-Quantized Hall Effect
Muzaffar, M. U.
Bai, Kai-Zhi
Qin, Wei
Cao, Guohua
Fu, Bo
Cui, Ping
Shen, Shun-Qing
Zhang, Zhenyu
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Integrating ferroelectricity, antiferromagnetism, and topological quantum transport within a single material is rare, but crucial for developing next-generation quantum devices. Here, we propose a multiferroic heterostructure consisting of an antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer and an Sb$_2$Te$_3$ film is able to harbor the half-quantized Hall (HQH) effect with a ferroelectrically switchable Hall conductivity of $e^2/2h$. We first show that, in the energetically stable configuration, the antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer opens a gap in the top surface bands of Sb$_2$Te$_3$ through proximity effect, while its bottom surface bands remain gapless; consequently, HQH conductivity of $e^2/2h$ can be sustained clockwise or counterclockwise depending on antiferromagnetic configuration of the MnBi$_2$Te$_4$. Remarkably, when applying interlayer sliding within the MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ bilayer, its electric polarization direction associated with parity-time reversal symmetry breaking is reversed, accompanied by a reversal of the HQH conductivity. The proposed approach offers a powerful route to control topological quantum transport in antiferromagnetic materials by ferroelectricity.
title Ferroelectrically Switchable Half-Quantized Hall Effect
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.03985