Layer-Polarized Anomalous Hall Effects from Inversion-Symmetric Single-Layer Lattices

Area of Science:

• Physics and Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Spintronics

Background:

• The layer-polarized anomalous Hall effect (LP-AHE) is a rare phenomenon, typically observed in topological or inversion-asymmetric valleytronic systems.
• Existing research focuses on complex material structures, limiting the widespread observation of LP-AHE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a universal design principle for achieving LP-AHE in inversion-symmetric single-layer lattices.
• To demonstrate a method for realizing LP-AHE in antiferromagnetic van der Waals bilayer lattices.

Main Methods:

• Tight-binding model analysis to explore the coupling physics between PT symmetry and vertical external bias.
• First-principles calculations to validate the proposed mechanism in specific materials.

Main Results:

• A universal design principle for LP-AHE in inversion-symmetric lattices is proposed.
• Coupling of PT symmetry and vertical bias in antiferromagnetic van der Waals bilayers unlocks layer-locked Berry curvature.
• The chirality of LP-AHE is controllable via the direction of the vertical external bias.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a novel mechanism for realizing LP-AHE in simpler, inversion-symmetric material systems.
• Experimental validation in bilayer T-FeCl2 and MnPSe3 confirms the proposed mechanism.
• This work opens new avenues for exploring and utilizing the LP-AHE in materials science and spintronics.