Magnetic-field-induced robust zero Hall plateau state in MnBi2Te4 Chern insulator

The antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 exhibits Chern and axion insulator phases at low magnetic field; however, its behaviour in high magnetic field has remained unexplored. Here, using transport measurements at high magnetic field, the authors report a zero Hall plateau composed of two counter-propagating edge channels. The intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 provides an ideal platform for exploring exotic topological quantum phenomena. Recently, the Chern insulator and axion insulator phases have been realized in few-layer MnBi2Te4 devices at low magnetic field regime. However, the fate of MnBi2Te4 in high magnetic field has never been explored in experiment. In this work, we report transport studies of exfoliated MnBi2Te4 flakes in pulsed magnetic fields up to 61.5 T. In the high-field limit, the Chern insulator phase with Chern number C = -1 evolves into a robust zero Hall resistance plateau state. Nonlocal transport measurements and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the charge transport in the zero Hall plateau state is conducted by two counter-propagating edge states that arise from the combined effects of Landau levels and large Zeeman effect in strong magnetic fields. Our result demonstrates the intricate interplay among intrinsic magnetic order, external magnetic field, and nontrivial band topology in MnBi2Te4.

Automated summary

The authors of this study report the discovery of a zero Hall resistance plateau state with two counter-propagating edge channels in high magnetic field, demonstrating the intricate interplay among intrinsic magnetic order, external magnetic field, and nontrivial band topology in MnBi2Te4.