arXiv subjects

Jinjiang Zhu

Publications and source records attributed to Jinjiang Zhu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Fabrication-induced even-odd discrepancy of magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi$_2$Te$_4$

The van der Waals antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 represents a promising platform for exploring the layer-dependent magnetism and topological states of matter. Recently observed discrepancies between magnetic and transport properties have aroused controversies concerning the topological nature of MnBi2Te4 in the ground state. In this article, we demonstrate that fabrication can induce mismatched even-odd layer dependent magnetotransport in few-layer MnBi2Te4. We perform a comprehensive study of the magnetotransport properties in 6- and 7-septuple-layer MnBi2Te4, and reveal that both even- and odd-number-layer device can show zero Hall plateau phenomena in zero magnetic field. Importantly, a statistical survey of the optical contrast in more than 200 MnBi2Te4 flakes reveals that the zero Hall plateau in odd-number-layer devices arises from the reduction of the effective thickness during the fabrication, a factor that was rarely noticed in previous studies of 2D materials. Our finding not only provides an explanation to the controversies regarding the discrepancy of the even-odd layer dependent magnetotransport in MnBi2Te4, but also highlights the critical issues concerning the fabrication and characterization of 2D material devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Direct observation of chiral edge current at zero magnetic field in odd-layer MnBi$_2$Te$_4$

The chiral edge current is the boundary manifestation of the Chern number of a quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulator. Its direct observation is assumed to require well-quantized Hall conductance, and is so far lacking. The recently discovered van der Waals antiferromagnet MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ is theorized as a QAH in odd-layers but has shown Hall resistivity below the quantization value at zero magnetic field. Here, we perform scanning superconducting quantum interference device (sSQUID) microscopy on these seemingly failed QAH insulators to image their current distribution. When gated to the charge neutral point, our device exhibits edge current, which flows unidirectionally on the odd-layer boundary both with vacuum and with the even-layer. The chirality of such edge current reverses with the magnetization of the bulk. Surprisingly, we find the edge channels coexist with finite bulk conduction even though the bulk chemical potential is in the band gap, suggesting their robustness under significant edge-bulk scattering. Our result establishes the existence of chiral edge currents in a topological antiferromagnet and offers an alternative for identifying QAH states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Direct visualization of edge state in even-layer MnBi2Te4 at zero magnetic field

Being the first intrinsic antiferromagnetic(AFM) topological insulator(TI), MnBi2Te4 is argued to be a topological axion state in its even-layer form due to the antiparallel magnetization between the top and bottom layers. Here we combine both transport and scanning microwave impedance microscopy(sMIM) to investigate such axion state in atomically thin MnBi2Te4 with even-layer thickness at zero magnetic field. While transport measurements show a zero Hall plateau signaturing the axion state, sMIM uncovers an unexpected edge state raising questions regarding the nature of the 'axion state'. Based on our model calculation, we propose that the edge state of even-layer MnBi2Te4 at zero field is derived from gapped helical edge states of the quantum spin Hall effect with time-reversal-symmetry breaking, when a crossover from a three-dimensional TI MnBi2Te4 to a two-dimensional TI occurs. Our finding thus signifies the richness of topological phases in MnB2Te4 that has yet to be fully explored.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Helical Luttinger liquid on the edge of a 2-dimensional topological antiferromagnet

Boundary helical Luttinger liquid (HLL) with broken bulk time-reversal symmetry belongs to a unique topological class which may occur in antiferromagnets (AFM). Here, we search for signatures of HLL on the edge of a recently discovered topological AFM, MnBi2Te4 even-layer. Using scanning superconducting quantum interference device, we directly image helical edge current in the AFM ground state appearing at its charge neutral point. Such helical edge state accompanies an insulating bulk which is topologically distinct from the ferromagnetic Chern insulator phase as revealed in a magnetic field driven quantum phase transition. The edge conductance of the AFM order follows a power-law as a function of temperature and source-drain bias which serves as strong evidence for HLL. Such HLL scaling is robust at finite fields below the quantum critical point. The observed HLL in a layered AFM semiconductor represents a highly tunable topological matter compatible with future spintronics and quantum computation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

On the forcing spectrum of generalized Petersen graphs P(n,2)

The forcing number of a perfect matching $M$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest cardinality of subsets of $M$ that are contained in no other perfect matchings of $G$. The forcing spectrum of $G$ is the collection of forcing numbers of all perfect matchings of $G$. In this paper, we classify the perfect matchings of a generalized Petersen graph $P(n,2)$ in two types, and show that the forcing spectrum is the union of two integer intervals. For $n\ge 34$, it is $\left[\lceil \frac { n }{ 12 } \rceil+1,\lceil \frac { n+3 }{ 7 } \rceil +δ(n)\right]\cup \left[\lceil \frac { n+2 }{ 6 } \rceil,\lceil \frac { n }{ 4 } \rceil\right]$, where $δ(n)=1$ if $n\equiv 3$ (mod 7), and $δ(n)=0$ otherwise.

math.CO↗