Topological Nernst effect of the two-dimensional skyrmion lattice

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of a giant topological Nernst effect in a skyrmion lattice material, Gd$_2$PdSi$_3$, highlighting its potential for thermoelectric applications and understanding of topological transport phenomena.

Contribution

It demonstrates the giant TNE in a centrosymmetric skyrmion lattice and explores doping effects on the topological Hall and Nernst effects, confirming Mott's relation.

Findings

Giant TNE comparable to the largest anomalous Nernst signals in ferromagnets.

Doping electrons enhances the topological Hall effect, approaching the intrinsic regime threshold.

Confirmation of Mott's relation between TNE and THE in the studied material.

Abstract

The topological Hall effect (THE) and its thermoelectric counterpart, the topological Nernst effect (TNE), are hallmarks of the skyrmion lattice phase (SkL). We observed the giant TNE of the SkL in centrosymmetric Gd$_2$PdSi$_3$, comparable in magnitude to the largest anomalous Nernst signals in ferromagnets. Significant enhancement (suppression) of the THE occurs when doping electrons (holes) to Gd$_2$PdSi$_3$. On the electron-doped side, the topological Hall conductivity approaches the characteristic threshold $\sim 1000\,\left(\mathrm{\Omega cm}\right)^{-1}$ for the intrinsic regime. We use the filling-controlled samples to confirm Mott's relation between TNE and THE and discuss the importance of Gd-5d orbitals for transport in this compound.