Electrothermal manipulation of current-induced phase transitions in ferrimagnetic Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$

TL;DR

This study reveals that current-induced phase transitions in ferrimagnetic Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$ are primarily driven by Joule heating, emphasizing the importance of thermal effects over intrinsic electronic mechanisms.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the observed current-induced phase transitions are due to electrothermal effects, providing new insights into interpreting current-driven phenomena in magnetic materials.

Findings

Current-induced phase transitions are caused by Joule heating.

I-V characteristics show strong non-reciprocal and hysteretic behavior.

Intrinsic I-V response follows Ohm's law, unaffected by magnetic field or temperature.

Abstract

Phase transitions driven by external stimuli are central to condensed matter physics, providing critical insights into symmetry breaking and emergent phenomena. Recently, ferrimagnetic (FiM) Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$ has attracted considerable attention for its magnetic-field-induced insulator-metal transitions (IMTs) and unconventional current-driven phase transitions, yet the role of applied currents in the magnetic phase remains poorly understood. Here, by combining local magnetization probes and time-resolved transport measurements, we uncover an electrothermal origin for the current-induced first-order-like phase transitions, characterized by abrupt voltage jumps and distinct magnetic domain evolution. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics measured under triangular waveforms exhibit strong non-reciprocal and hysteretic behaviors, which are significantly suppressed at frequencies ~1000 Hz. Time-resolved studies using rectangular pulsed currents demonstrate that the resistance dynamics closely mirror the equilibrium resistance-temperature profile, directly implicating Joule heating as the driving mechanism. Furthermore, we reveal that the intrinsic I-V response adheres to Ohm's law, displaying linearity across various magnetic fields and temperatures. Our work advocates for a cautious approach in distinguishing between genuine current-induced nonequilibrium quantum states and thermal effects.