Revisiting magnetic exchange interactions in transition metal doped Bi$_2$Se$_3$ using DFT+MFT

Abstract: Topological insulators doped with magnetic impurities has become a promising candidate for Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect (QAHE) in the dilute doping limit. The crucial factor in realizing the QAHE in these systems is the spontaneous Ferromagnetic (FM) ordering between the doped magnetic atoms. Hence, understanding the magnetic exchange interaction between the magnetic atoms becomes essential. In this work, we use the Density functional theory (DFT) and Magnetic force theorem (MFT) to calculate the magnetic exchange interaction between magnetic impurities (V, Cr, Mn, Fe) in the host Bi2Se3. Through an orbital decomposition of the calculated exchange, we can identify the nature and origin of the exchange mechanism that depends on the type of magnetic atoms, doping concentration, host material etc. Our results show that Cr doping results in an insulating state, a prerequisite for the QAHE, that remains robust against doping concentration and local correlation. In this case, the short-ranged superexchange and long-ranged exchange via the p-orbitals of the host results in an FM order. For other doped systems (V, Mn and Fe doped), their electronic configuration and local octahedral environment open the possibility of finite carrier density at the Fermi energy. Depending on the type of this carrier (electron/hole) and their localized/delocalized nature, a short-ranged double exchange / long-ranged RKKY mechanism could occur between the magnetic atoms.