Atomically-precise engineering of spin-orbit polarons in a kagome magnetic Weyl semimetal

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates atomically-precise defect engineering in a kagome magnetic Weyl semimetal, revealing tunable magnetic and electronic properties of spin-orbit polarons with potential applications in quantum technology.

Contribution

It introduces a method for atomic-scale defect engineering in topological materials, enabling control over localized quantum states and magnetic moments.

Findings

Vacancy size affects the energy and symmetry of localized states.

Localized magnetic moments can be tuned and extended by vacancy engineering.

The approach offers a new platform for quantum state manipulation in topological materials.

Abstract

Atomically-precise engineering of defects in topological quantum materials, which is essential for constructing new artificial quantum materials with exotic properties and appealing for practical quantum applications, remains challenging due to the hindrances in modifying complex lattice with atomic precision. Here, we report the atomically-precise engineering of the vacancy-localized spin-orbital polarons (SOP) in a kagome magnetic Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2, using scanning tunneling microscope. We achieve the step-by-step repairing of the selected vacancies, which results in the formation of artificial sulfur vacancy with elaborate geometry. We find that that the bound states localized around the vacancies experience a symmetry-dependent energy shift towards Fermi level with increasing vacancy size. Strikingly, as vacancy size increases, the localized magnetic moments of SOPs are tunable and ultimately extended to the negative magnetic moments resulting from spin-orbit coupling in the kagome flat band. These findings establish a new platform for engineering atomic quantum states in topological quantum materials, offering potential for kagome-lattice-based spintronics and quantum technologies.