Topological Antiferromagnetic Semimetal for Spintronics: A Case Study of a Layered Square Net System EuZnSb$_2$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electronic and magnetic properties of EuZnSb₂, a layered antiferromagnetic topological semimetal, revealing how magnetic ordering influences surface electronic dispersion and spin transport, with implications for quantum spintronics.

Contribution

It demonstrates how magnetic ordering and Neel vector orientation significantly affect transport properties and surface electronic structure in EuZnSb₂, highlighting its potential for spintronics.

Findings

Magnetic ordering amplifies effects on spin Hall conductivity.

Surface electronic dispersion is highly sensitive to Neel vector orientation.

EuZnSb₂ shows promise for quantum spintronics applications.

Abstract

We use the first principles and effective Hamiltonian methods to study the electronic structure and magnetic properties of a recently synthesized layered antiferromagnetic square net topological semimetal EuZnSb$_2$ [1]. The main message of the paper is that effects of small changes in the band structure produced by the magnetic ordering and changes in the orientation of the \Neel vector are amplified in such transport properties as the spin Hall conductivity. We predict that the effects of the broken symmetry introduced by the ordering of the \Neel vector, being very weak in the bulk, are pronounced in the surface electronic dispersion, suggesting that surface probes may be more suited to measure them. The coexistence of the magnetism with many other competing phases make this material interesting and possibly useful for quantum spintronics applications.