Layer zero-line modes in antiferromagnetic topological insulators

Recently, the magnetic domain walls have been experimentally observed in antiferromagnetic topological insulators MnBi$_2$Te$_4$, where we find that the topological zero-line modes (ZLMs) appear along the domain walls. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that these ZLMs are layer-dependent in MnBi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liang, Wenhao, Hou, Tao, Zeng, Junjie, Liu, Zheng, Han, Yulei, Qiao, Zhenhua
Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/169896
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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Summary:Recently, the magnetic domain walls have been experimentally observed in antiferromagnetic topological insulators MnBi$_2$Te$_4$, where we find that the topological zero-line modes (ZLMs) appear along the domain walls. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that these ZLMs are layer-dependent in MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ multilayers. For domain walls with out-of-plane ferromagnetism, we find that ZLMs are equally distributed in the odd-number layers. When domain walls possess in-plane magnetization, the ZLMs can also exist in even-number layers due to in-plane mirror-symmetry breaking. Moreover, the conductive channels are mainly distributed in the outermost layers with increasing layer thickness. Our findings lay out a strategy in manipulating ZLMs and also can be utilized to distinguish the corresponding magnetic structures.