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Switchable chiral transport in charge-ordered kagome metal CsV3Sb5
Chunyu Guo1,2, Carsten Putzke3, Sofia Konyzheva4
1Laboratory of Quantum Materials (QMAT), Institute of Materials (IMX), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. chunyu.guo@mpsd.mpg.de.
Nature
|October 12, 2022
Summary
Researchers observed electronic magnetochiral anisotropy (eMChA) in the centrosymmetric kagome metal CsV3Sb5. This chiral transport, controllable by magnetic fields, is linked to charge order and time-reversal symmetry breaking.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Materials
Background:
- Chiral transport coefficients are unusual responses forbidden in achiral metals.
- These effects typically require materials lacking a center of inversion and strong chiral coupling.
- Previous observations were limited to materials with strong atomic mirror symmetry breaking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate chiral transport in the centrosymmetric kagome metal CsV3Sb5.
- To explore the relationship between electronic chirality, charge order, and time-reversal symmetry breaking.
- To demonstrate magnetic field control of chiral transport in a centrosymmetric material.
Main Methods:
- Second-harmonic generation measurements under an in-plane magnetic field.
- Temperature-dependent measurements to probe the charge-ordered state.
- Analysis of the influence of out-of-plane magnetic field components on chirality.
Main Results:
- Observed significant electronic magnetochiral anisotropy (eMChA) in CsV3Sb5 below 35 K, within its charge-ordered state (T_CDW ≈ 94 K).
- Established a direct correspondence between electronic chirality, unidirectional charge order, and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking.
- Demonstrated that chirality is set by the out-of-plane field component and can be switched by changing the field sign.
Conclusions:
- CsV3Sb5 exhibits strong chiral transport despite its centrosymmetric nature.
- The observed chiral transport is intimately linked to the charge-ordered state and symmetry breaking.
- This material offers unprecedented control over chiral transport via magnetic fields, paving the way for chiral electronics.
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