Alternative to the topological interpretation of the transverse resistivity anomalies in SrRuO3

We clarify the physical origin of anomalies in transverse resistivity often observed in exotic materials, such as SrRuO3, in which the Berry curvature is manifested in the transport properties. The previously attributed mechanism for the anomalies, the topological Hall effect (THE) [e.g., J. Matsuno et al., Sci. Adv 2, e160030 (2016)], is refuted by our thorough investigations as well as formulation of a model considering inhomogeneous magnetoelectric properties in the material. Our analyses fully explain every feature of the anomalies without resorting to the THE. The present results establish a fundamental understanding, which was previously overlooked, of magnetotransport properties in such exotic materials.