Topologically trivial semiconducting behavior and polaronic effects in antiferromagnetic EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$Sb$_2$

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Sar, Divyanshi, Gong, Mingda, Romanova, Tetiana, Khizanishvili, Luka, Park, Hannah, Kaczorowski, Dariusz, Lee, Wei-Cheng, Aynajian, Pegor
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Sar, Divyanshi
Gong, Mingda
Romanova, Tetiana
Khizanishvili, Luka
Park, Hannah
Kaczorowski, Dariusz
Lee, Wei-Cheng
Aynajian, Pegor
author_facet Sar, Divyanshi
Gong, Mingda
Romanova, Tetiana
Khizanishvili, Luka
Park, Hannah
Kaczorowski, Dariusz
Lee, Wei-Cheng
Aynajian, Pegor
contents The Eu-based EuA$_2$X$_2$ (A = Zn, Cd, In, Sn; X = P, As, Sb) family of compounds has recently attracted significant attention as a promising platform for exploring magnetic topological materials, with several members either predicted or reported to exhibit nontrivial topological properties. We investigate the previously reported topological semimetals, EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$Sb$_2$, using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, complemented by various first-principles computational approaches. Through examination of the cleaved surfaces, step-edges, and defect states, we determine the trivial semiconducting behavior in both material systems, with no evidence of topological surface or edge states. These experimental results are consistent with our theoretical analysis revealing the absence of topological band inversion in either system. Our experimental observations also reveal numerous intrinsic defects that trap charge carriers. These defects may facilitate the formation of magnetic polarons, providing a natural explanation for the colossal negative magnetoresistance observed in many of the EuA$_2$X$_2$ material systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_14205
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Topologically trivial semiconducting behavior and polaronic effects in antiferromagnetic EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$Sb$_2$
Sar, Divyanshi
Gong, Mingda
Romanova, Tetiana
Khizanishvili, Luka
Park, Hannah
Kaczorowski, Dariusz
Lee, Wei-Cheng
Aynajian, Pegor
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Materials Science
The Eu-based EuA$_2$X$_2$ (A = Zn, Cd, In, Sn; X = P, As, Sb) family of compounds has recently attracted significant attention as a promising platform for exploring magnetic topological materials, with several members either predicted or reported to exhibit nontrivial topological properties. We investigate the previously reported topological semimetals, EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$Sb$_2$, using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, complemented by various first-principles computational approaches. Through examination of the cleaved surfaces, step-edges, and defect states, we determine the trivial semiconducting behavior in both material systems, with no evidence of topological surface or edge states. These experimental results are consistent with our theoretical analysis revealing the absence of topological band inversion in either system. Our experimental observations also reveal numerous intrinsic defects that trap charge carriers. These defects may facilitate the formation of magnetic polarons, providing a natural explanation for the colossal negative magnetoresistance observed in many of the EuA$_2$X$_2$ material systems.
title Topologically trivial semiconducting behavior and polaronic effects in antiferromagnetic EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$Sb$_2$
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14205