Antiferromagnetic Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect Modulated by Spin Flips and Flops

Abstract: The interplay between nontrivial band topology and layered antiferromagnetism in MnBi2Te4 has opened up a new avenue for exploring topological phases of matter. Representative examples include the quantum anomalous Hall effect and axion insulator state observed in odd and even number layers of MnBi2Te4, when the top and bottom surfaces have parallel and antiparallel spin alignments respectively. The rich and complex spin dynamics associated with the van der Waals antiferromagnetic order is expected to generate novel topological phases and phase transitions that are unique to MnBi2Te4. Here we fabricate a device of 7-septuple-layer MnBi2Te4 covered with AlOx capping layer, which enables the investigation of antiferromagnetic quantum anomalous Hall effect over wide parameter spaces. By tuning the gate voltage and perpendicular magnetic field, we uncover a cascade of quantum phase transitions that can be attributed to the influence of spin configurations on charge transport. Furthermore, we find that an in-plane magnetic field enhances both the coercive field and exchange gap of the surface state, in sharp contrast to that in ferromagnetic quantum anomalous Hall state. We propose that these peculiar features arise from the spin flip and flop transitions inherent to van der Waals antiferromagnet. The versatile tunability of the quantum anomalous Hall effect in MnBi2Te4 paves the way for potential applications in topological antiferromagnetic spintronics.