Localized singlets and ferromagnetic fluctuations in the dilute magnetic topological insulator Sn0.95Mn0.05Te
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
The development of long-range ferromagnetic (FM) order in dilute magnetic topological insulators can induce dissipationless electronic surface transport via the quantum anomalous Hall effect. We measure the magnetic excitations in a prototypical magnetic topological crystalline insulator, Sn0.95Mn0.05Te, using inelastic neutron scattering. Neutron diffraction and magnetization data indicate that our Sn0.95Mn0.05Te sample has no FM long-range order above a temperature of 2 K. However, we observe slow, collective FM fluctuations (<70μeV), indicating proximity to FM order. We also find a series of sharp peaks originating from local excitations of antiferromagnetically (AF) coupled and isolated Mn-Mn dimers with JAF=460μeV. The simultaneous presence of collective and localized components in the magnetic spectra highlight different roles for substituted Mn ions, with competition between FM order and the formation of AF-coupled Mn-Mn dimers.