Strain tuning the magnetic and transport properties of Mn$_3$Ge

TL;DR

This paper investigates how applying strain to Mn$_3$Ge affects its magnetic and transport properties, specifically its anomalous Hall response and magnon band gaps, enabling control over these phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces an effective model linking strain to the Hall vector and demonstrates strain-induced switching of the Hall response and manipulation of spin wave band gaps.

Findings

Strain can switch the sign of the anomalous Hall response.

Strain effectively manipulates spin wave band gaps.

Both intra and inter planar strains influence magnetic properties.

Abstract

The kagome lattice antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Ge has a local hexagonal symmetry with a 120$^\circ$ ordered ground state. This non-colinear ground state engenders a strong anomalous Hall response. The main goal of this work is to understand the effect of strain on this response. We derive an effective model for the Hall vector which functions as our order parameter. Using this model we show how both intra and inter planar strains can be used to switch the sign of the Hall response at a constant magnetic field. Further, we also investigate the effect of this strain on the spin wave band gaps and show that strain can be used to effectively manipulate them, which can be used to tune the magnon responses in this system.