Topological metal-insulator transition within the ferromagnetic state
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2026
A major challenge in condensed matter physics is integrating topological phenomena with correlated electron physics to leverage both types of states for next-generation quantum devices. Metal-insulator transitions are central to bridging these two domains while simultaneously serving as on-off switches for electronic states. Here, we demonstrate how the prototypical material of K2Cr8O16 undergoes a ferromagnetic metal-insulator transition accompanied by a change in band topology. Through inelastic x-ray and neutron scattering experiments combined with first-principles theoretical calculations, we show that this transition is not driven by a Peierls mechanism, given the lack of phonon softening. Instead, we establish the transition as a topological metal-insulator transition within the ferromagnetic phase with potential axionic properties, where electron correlations play a key role in stabilizing the insulating state. These results reveal how a metal-insulator transition provides a pathway through which magnetism, topology, and electronic correlations interact.
Författare
Ola Kenji Forslund
Universität Zürich
Uppsala universitet
Chin Shen Ong
Uppsala universitet
Moritz M. Hirschmann
RIKEN
Nicolas Gauthier
INRS-Energy, Materials and Telecommunications
Hiroshi Uchiyama
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)
Christian Tzschaschel
Universität Zürich
Daniel G. Mazzone
Paul Scherrer Institut
Romain Sibille
Paul Scherrer Institut
Antonio M. dos Santos
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
M. Horio
Universität Zürich
E. Nocerino
Stockholms universitet
Paul Scherrer Institut
Nami Matsubara
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)
Deepak John Mukkattukavil
Uppsala universitet
Konstantinos Papadopoulos
Chalmers, Fysik, Materialfysik
Kazuya Kamazawa
Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS)
Kazuhiko Ikeuchi
Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS)
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
H. Takagi
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Masahiko Isobe
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Jun Sugiyama
Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS)
J. Chang
Universität Zürich
Yasmine Sassa
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)
Olle Eriksson
Uppsala universitet
Martin Månsson
Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)
Nature Communications
2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)
Vol. 17 1 2112Ämneskategorier (SSIF 2025)
Den kondenserade materiens fysik
Annan fysik
DOI
10.1038/s41467-026-70042-w
PubMed
41760618