Temperature-invariant magneto-optical Kerr effect in a noncollinear antiferromagnet

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Farhang, Camron, Lu, Weihang, Yao, Yuchuan, Pal, Pratap, Han, Shaofeng, Zheng, Jian-Guo, Chen, Hua, Eom, Chang-Beom, Xia, Jing
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Farhang, Camron
Lu, Weihang
Yao, Yuchuan
Pal, Pratap
Han, Shaofeng
Zheng, Jian-Guo
Chen, Hua
Eom, Chang-Beom
Xia, Jing
author_facet Farhang, Camron
Lu, Weihang
Yao, Yuchuan
Pal, Pratap
Han, Shaofeng
Zheng, Jian-Guo
Chen, Hua
Eom, Chang-Beom
Xia, Jing
contents The anomalous Hall effect and magneto-optical Kerr effect have traditionally been associated with ferromagnets, but recent studies reveal their presence in noncollinear antiferromagnets due to nonzero Berry curvature despite negligible net magnetization. However, Hall measurements often show strong temperature dependence caused by extrinsic scattering, complicating quantitative analysis, and temperature invariance of the Kerr effect remains unconfirmed. Here we employ epitaxial, stoichiometric Mn3NiN single crystal films and perform polar Kerr measurements at an infrared 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength, demonstrating a spontaneous Kerr signal that remains stable within a few percent across a 200 Kelvin range below the Néel temperature. This temperature-invariant Kerr effect contrasts with the strongly temperature-dependent Hall effect and confirms the intrinsic nature of Berry curvature in these materials. Our findings establish infrared Kerr effect as a reliable, local probe of Berry curvature in noncollinear antiferromagnets, facilitating quantitative characterization and advancing antiferromagnetic spintronic applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_19709
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Temperature-invariant magneto-optical Kerr effect in a noncollinear antiferromagnet
Farhang, Camron
Lu, Weihang
Yao, Yuchuan
Pal, Pratap
Han, Shaofeng
Zheng, Jian-Guo
Chen, Hua
Eom, Chang-Beom
Xia, Jing
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Optics
The anomalous Hall effect and magneto-optical Kerr effect have traditionally been associated with ferromagnets, but recent studies reveal their presence in noncollinear antiferromagnets due to nonzero Berry curvature despite negligible net magnetization. However, Hall measurements often show strong temperature dependence caused by extrinsic scattering, complicating quantitative analysis, and temperature invariance of the Kerr effect remains unconfirmed. Here we employ epitaxial, stoichiometric Mn3NiN single crystal films and perform polar Kerr measurements at an infrared 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength, demonstrating a spontaneous Kerr signal that remains stable within a few percent across a 200 Kelvin range below the Néel temperature. This temperature-invariant Kerr effect contrasts with the strongly temperature-dependent Hall effect and confirms the intrinsic nature of Berry curvature in these materials. Our findings establish infrared Kerr effect as a reliable, local probe of Berry curvature in noncollinear antiferromagnets, facilitating quantitative characterization and advancing antiferromagnetic spintronic applications.
title Temperature-invariant magneto-optical Kerr effect in a noncollinear antiferromagnet
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.19709