Field-induced magnetic phase transitions and transport anomalies in GdAlSi

TL;DR

This study synthesizes GdAlSi single crystals and explores their complex magnetic phase transitions and transport anomalies, revealing potential for topological state manipulation in Weyl semimetals.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental investigation of magnetic and transport properties in GdAlSi, demonstrating multiple magnetic transitions and their effects on electronic transport.

Findings

Identified two antiferromagnetic transitions at 31.9 K and 31.1 K.

Discovered a third magnetic transition under magnetic fields exceeding 8 T.

Observed stepwise magnetoresistance anomalies and hysteresis loops.

Abstract

Magnetic topological materials hosting non-zero Berry curvature have emerged as a focus of intensive research due to their exceptional magnetoelectric coupling phenomena and potential applications in next-generation spintronic devices. In this work, we successfully synthesized high-quality GdAlSi single crystals, a prototypical member of RAlX (R = rare earth elements; X = Si/Ge) family that has been theoretically predicted to sustain a non-trivial Weyl semimetal state. Through systematic investigations of magnetic and transport properties, we identified two successive antiferromagnetic transitions at critical temperatures TN1 31.9 K and TN2 31.1 K, as evidenced by temperature-dependent resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements. Notably, applied magnetic fields exceeding 8 T induce a third magnetic transition (TN3), generating a cascade of metamagnetic transitions that collectively form a dendritic phase diagram. This complex magnetic behavior is attributed to the interplay between localized Gd-4f moments and itinerant conduction electrons, possibly mediated by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions. Transport measurements revealed striking stepwise anomalies in magnetoresistance when crossing phase boundaries, accompanied by pronounced hysteresis loops arising from magnetic moment flopping processes. Our results not only establish GdAlSi as a rich platform for investigating correlated topological states, but also demonstrate its potential for engineering topological phase transitions through magnetic symmetry manipulation in Weyl semimetals.