UOTe: Kondo-Interacting Topological Antiferromagnet in a Van der Waals Lattice

February 13, 2025
Single-crystal neutron diffraction data of UOTe (upper-panel) and the symmetry-allowed magnetic structures (lower-panel). The ↓↑↑↓ structure agrees with the neutron data caption

Scientific Achievement

Magnetic structure of the topological antiferromagnet UOTe is revealed using single-crystal neutron diffraction. A fully compensated AFM Chern insulator is discovered based on experiment evidence and theoretical predictions.

Significance and Impact

These results show breaking of combined parity and time-reversal (PT) symmetry, allowing for non-zero Chern number responsible for quantum anomalous Hall effects.

Research Details

  • Single-crystal diffraction data of the Van der Waals magnet UOTe are reported.
  • Evolution of the magnetic structure with temperature is studied.
  • Topological effects are explained by PT symmetry breaking.
  • Results help to elucidate the Dirac semimetal behaviors

“UOTe: Kondo-Interacting Topological Antiferromagnet in a Van der Waals Lattice,” Advanced Materials 37, 2414966 (2025).
Christopher Broyles, Sougata Mardanya, Mengke Liu, Junyeong Ahn, Thao Dinh, Gadeer Alqasseri, Jalen Garner, Zackary Rehfuss, Ken Guo, Jiahui Zhu, David Martinez, Du Li, Yiqing Hao, Huibo Cao, Matt Boswell, Weiwei Xie, Jeremy G. Philbrick, Tai Kong, Li Yang, Ashvin Vishwanath, Philip Kim, Su-Yang Xu, Jennifer E. Hoffman,*Jonathan D. Denlinger, Sugata Chowdhury, and Sheng Ran https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202414966