Gigantic Magnetochiral Anisotropy in the Topological Semimetal ZrTe5

Topological materials with broken inversion symmetry can give rise to nonreciprocal responses, such as the current rectification controlled by magnetic fields via magnetochiral anisotropy. Bulk nonreciprocal responses usually stem from relativistic corrections and are always very small. Here we report our discovery that ZrTe5 crystals in proximity to a topological quantum phase transition present gigantic magnetochiral anisotropy, which is the largest ever observed to date. We argue that a very low carrier density, inhomogeneities, and a torus-shaped Fermi surface induced by breaking of inversion symmetry in a Dirac material are central to explain this extraordinary property.

Automated summary

Researchers have discovered that ZrTe5 crystals exhibit a gigantic magnetochiral anisotropy when they are in proximity to a topological quantum phase transition, which is the largest ever observed. The low carrier density, inhomogeneities, and torus-shaped Fermi surface induced by breaking of inversion symmetry in a Dirac material are argued to be central to explaining this extraordinary property.