Hidden local symmetry breaking in a kagome-lattice magnetic Weyl semimetal

Abstract

Exploring the relationship between intriguing physical properties and structural complexity is a central topic in studying modern functional materials. Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2}$S$_{2}$, a new discovered kagome-lattice magnetic Weyl semimetal, has triggered intense interest owing to the intimate coupling between topological semimetallic states and peculiar magnetic properties. However, the origins of the magnetic phase separation and spin glass state below $T_{C}$ in this ordered compound are two unresolved yet important puzzles in understanding its magnetism. Here, we report the discovery of local symmetry breaking surprisingly co-emerges with the onset of ferromagnetic order in Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2}$S$_{2}$, by a combined use of neutron total scattering and half polarized neutron diffraction. The mismatch of local and average symmetries occurs below $T_{C}$, indicating that Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2}$S$_{2}$ evolves to an intrinsically lattice disordered system when the ferromagnetic order is established. The local symmetry breaking with intrinsic lattice disorder provides new understandings to the puzzling magnetic properties. Our density function theory calculation indicates that the local symmetry breaking is expected to reorient local ferromagnetic moments, unveiling the existence of the ferromagnetic instability associated with the lattice instability. Furthermore, DFT calculation unveils that the local symmetry breaking could affect the Weyl property by breaking mirror plane. Our findings highlight the fundamentally important role that the local symmetry breaking plays in advancing our understanding on the magnetic and topological properties in Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2}$S$_{2}$, which may draw the attention to explore the overlooked local symmetry breaking in Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2}$S$_{2}$, its derivatives, and more broadly in other topological Dirac/Weyl semimetals and kagome-lattice magnets.