Orbital character of the spin-reorientation transition in TbMn6Sn6

S. X. M. Riberolles, Tyler J. Slade, R. L. Dally, P. M. Sarte, Bing Li, Tianxiong Han, H. Lane, C. Stock, H. Bhandari, N. J. Ghimire, D. L. Abernathy, P. C. Canfield, J. W. Lynn, B. G. Ueland and R. J. McQueeney ()
Additional contact information
S. X. M. Riberolles: Ames National Laboratory
Tyler J. Slade: Ames National Laboratory
R. L. Dally: National Institute of Standards and Technology
P. M. Sarte: University of California Santa Barbara
Bing Li: Iowa State University
Tianxiong Han: Iowa State University
H. Lane: University of Edinburgh
C. Stock: University of Edinburgh
H. Bhandari: George Mason University
N. J. Ghimire: George Mason University
D. L. Abernathy: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P. C. Canfield: Ames National Laboratory
J. W. Lynn: National Institute of Standards and Technology
B. G. Ueland: Ames National Laboratory
R. J. McQueeney: Ames National Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Ferromagnetic (FM) order in a two-dimensional kagome layer is predicted to generate a topological Chern insulator without an applied magnetic field. The Chern gap is largest when spin moments point perpendicular to the kagome layer, enabling the capability to switch topological transport properties, such as the quantum anomalous Hall effect, by controlling the spin orientation. In TbMn6Sn6, the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of the Tb3+ ion is effective at generating the Chern state within the FM Mn kagome layers while a spin-reorientation (SR) transition to easy-plane order above TSR = 310 K provides a mechanism for switching. Here, we use inelastic neutron scattering to provide key insights into the fundamental nature of the SR transition. The observation of two Tb excitations, which are split by the magnetic anisotropy energy, indicates an effective two-state orbital character for the Tb ion, with a uniaxial ground state and an isotropic excited state. The simultaneous observation of both modes below TSR confirms that orbital fluctuations are slow on magnetic and electronic time scales

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38174-5

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