Flux states and topological phases from spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking in CrSi(Ge)Te${}_3$-based systems

Abstract

We study adatom-covered single layers of CrSiTe${}_3$ and CrGeTe${}_3$ using first-principles calculations based on hybrid functionals. We find that the insulating ground state of a monolayer of La (Lu) deposited on single-layer CrSiTe${}_3$ (CrGeTe${}_3$) carries spontaneously generated current loops around the Cr sites, These "flux states" induce antiferromagnetically ordered orbital moments on the Cr sites and are also associated with nontrivial topological properties. The calculated Chern numbers for these systems are predicted to be $\pm 1$ even in the absence of spin-orbit coupling, with sizable gaps on the order of 100 meV. The flux states and the associated topological phases result from spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking due to the presence of nonlocal Coulomb interactions.

5 pages 4 figures

References in corpus (6)

• Quantum Spin Hall Effect and Topological Phase Transition in HgTe Quantum Wells
• Experimental Observation of the Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in a Magnetic Topological Insulator
• Quantized Anomalous Hall Effect in Magnetic Topological Insulators
• Topological Mott Insulators
• Chern insulators from heavy atoms on magnetic substrates
• Spin-orbit spillage as a measure of band inversion in insulators

Cited by in corpus (11)

• NiCl3 Monolayer: Dirac Spin-Gapless Semiconductor and Chern Insulator
• Tricritical behavior of two-dimensional intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconducting CrGeTe3
• Critical behavior of quasi-two-dimensional semiconducting ferromagnet CrGeTe${}_3$
• Emerging chiral edge states from the confinement of a magnetic Weyl semimetal in Co${}_3$Sn${}_2$S${}_2$
• Carrier and strain tunable intrinsic magnetism in two-dimensional MAX${}_3$ transition metal chalcogenides
• Critical behavior and magnetocaloric effect in Mn${}_3$Si${}_2$Te${}_6$
• Impact of Sb degrees of freedom on the charge density wave phase diagram of the kagome metal CsV${}_3$Sb${}_5$
• Field-controlled quantum anomalous Hall effect in electron-doped CrSiTe${}_3$ monolayer: a first-principles prediction
• Low-energy effective theory and symmetry classification of flux phases on Kagome lattice
• Josephson diodes induced by the loop current states
• Loop-current order through the kagome looking glass