Topological surface magnetism and Neel vector control in a magnetoelectric antiferromagnet

Antiferromagnetic states with no stray magnetic fields can enable high-density ultra-fast spintronic technologies. However, the detection and control of antiferromagnetic Neel vectors remain challenging. Linear magnetoelectric antiferromagnets (LMAs) may provide new pathways, but applying simultaneous electric and magnetic fields, necessary to control Neel vectors in LMAs, is cumbersome and impractical for most applications. Herein, we show that Cr2O3, a prototypical room-temperature LMA, carries a topologically-protected surface magnetism in all surfaces, which stems from intrinsic surface electric fields due to band bending, combined with the bulk linear magnetoelectricity. Consequently, bulk Neel vectors with zero bulk magnetization can be simply tuned by magnetic fields through controlling the magnetizations associated with the surface magnetism. Our results imply that the surface magnetizations discovered in Cr2O3 should be also present in all LMAs.

Automated summary

Researchers have discovered surface magnetism in Cr2O3 and other linear magnetoelectric antiferromagnets, which allows for simple tuning of the internal magnetization of antiferromagnetic materials by controlling the surface magnetism. This study provides a new approach for the development of high-density ultra-fast spintronic technologies.