Colossal magnetoresistance via avoiding fully polarized magnetization in the ferrimagnetic insulator <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>Mn</mml:mi><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi>Si</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi>Te</mml:mi><mml:mn>6</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>
Yifei Ni, Hengdi Zhao, Yu Zhang, Bing Hu, Itamar Kimchi, Gang Cao
Abstract
Magnetic polarization reduces spin scattering and underpins colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in the manganites and almost all other CMR materials. In sharp contrast, the observed CMR in the ferrimagnetic insulator Mn${}_{3}$Si${}_{2}$Te${}_{6}$, which features a resistivity drop by an astonishing seven orders of magnitude, emerges only when the fully polarized magnetization is avoided. This intriguing type of electrical transport fits no existing theoretical models, providing a new paradigm for studying CMR and its applications.
Topics & Concepts
FerrimagnetismColossal magnetoresistanceMagnetizationPhysicsCondensed matter physicsMagnetoresistanceQuantum mechanicsMagnetic fieldMagnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materialsAdvanced Condensed Matter PhysicsMultiferroics and related materials