Defect-Driven Competing Magnetic Interactions in MnSb<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>4</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

The antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 displays interesting properties related to the interaction between topological electronic bands and magnetic order. In isostructural MnSb2Te4, anti-site mixing between Mn and Sb atoms introduces magnetic vacancies and defects and determines whether the ground state is ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic. Here, we present inelastic neutron scattering on single crystals of MnSb2Te4, where clear evidence of defect-induced magnetic excitations are observed. Qualitative analysis using linear spin wave theory and classical atomistic spin dynamic simulations are consistent with strong antiferromagnetic coupling to magnetic defects. We discuss how these defect-driven interactions control the global magnetic order in MnSb2Te4.

**This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering. Ames National Laboratory is operated for the U.S. DOE by Iowa State University under Contract No. DE-AC02-07CH11358. This research used resources at the Spallation Neutron Source, which is a U.S. DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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Presenters

  • Dhurba R Jaishi

    • Iowa State University

Authors

  • Dhurba R Jaishi

    • Iowa State University

  • Bing Li

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Tianxiong Han

    • Iowa State University, Ames National Laboratory
    • Iowa State University, Ames National Lab

  • Simon X Riberolles

    • Ames National Laboratory
    • Ames Lab

  • Daniel M Pajerowski

    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Robert J McQueeney

    • Ames National Laboratory/Iowa State University
    • Iowa State University
    • Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University