Imprinting Electrically Switchable Scalar Spin Chirality by Anisotropic Strain in a Kagome Antiferromagnet

Abstract Topological chiral antiferromagnets, such as Mn3Sn, are emerging as promising materials for next‐generation spintronic devices due to their intrinsic transport properties linked to exotic magnetic configurations. Here, it is demonstrated that anisotropic strain in Mn3Sn thin films offers a...

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Main Authors: Debjoty Paul, Shivesh Yadav, Shikhar Gupta, Bikash Patra, Nilesh Kulkarni, Debashis Mondal, Kaushal Gavankar, Sourav K. Sahu, Biswarup Satpati, Bahadur Singh, Owen Benton, Shouvik Chatterjee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202502569
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Summary:Abstract Topological chiral antiferromagnets, such as Mn3Sn, are emerging as promising materials for next‐generation spintronic devices due to their intrinsic transport properties linked to exotic magnetic configurations. Here, it is demonstrated that anisotropic strain in Mn3Sn thin films offers a novel approach to manipulate the magnetic ground state, unlocking new functionalities in this material. Anisotropic strain reduces the point group symmetry of the manganese (Mn) Kagome triangles from C3v to C1, significantly altering the energy landscape of the magnetic states in Mn3Sn. This symmetry reduction enables even a tiny in‐plane Dzyaloshinskii‐Moriya (DM) interaction to induce canting of the Mn spins out of the Kagome plane. The modified magnetic ground state introduces a finite scalar spin chirality and results in a significant Berry phase in momentum space. Consequently, a large anomalous Hall effect emerges in the Kagome plane at room temperature ‐ an effect that is absent in the bulk material. Moreover, this twofold degenerate magnetic state enables the creation of multiple‐stable, non‐volatile anomalous Hall resistance (AHR) memory states. These states are field‐stable and can be controlled by thermal‐assisted current‐induced magnetization switching, requiring modest current densities and small bias fields, thereby offering a compelling new functionality in Mn3Sn for spintronic applications.
ISSN:2198-3844