TRR 360 Sonderseminar:

The unusual electron transport in metallic Kagome nets

Philip J. W. Moll

The unusual electron transport in metallic Kagome nets

Prof. Dr. Philip J. W. Moll

Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

Materials that can host different states of electronic order form a recurring theme in physics and

materials science, and they are of particular interest if they are coupled strongly. A famous

example are ferroelectrics, in which electric polarization and magnetism not only coexist but are

strongly linked. This both unveils a rich physics of correlated states, and also opens unexpected

application avenues as the coupling promises to manipulate one state by a stimulus that primarily

acts on another – say switching magnetism using electric fields.

Recently, materials based on the structural motif of the Kagome web have attracted significant

attention for their tendency to host such strongly coupled phases. In particular, the centro-

symmetric layered Kagome metal (K,Cs)V₃Sb₅ have entered the focus of experimental and

theoretical research. They host a charge-density-wave type transition at elevated temperatures

~100K, followed by a superconducting transition at 3K (exact values depend on composition).

Yet there is another type of electronic order which thus far eludes exact microscopic

identification. A series of experimental probes detects the onset of anomalous behavior around

T’~30-40K, including thermal Hall, µSR, NMR, magnetic torque, Kerr rotation. The anomalous

low-temperature state carries the characteristics of a chiral, nematic and time-reversal-symmetry

breaking fluid (all of which are under most active debate currently).

Yet what crystallizes out of the current state of experimental data is a highly entangled system

which is extraordinarily responsive to external perturbations. This materials main strength is

equally its weakness, the unusual degree of coupling between states can hinder its systematic

investigation. However, it is already clear that it provides a platform to explore strongly coupled

correlated phases, and as a result it displays a thus-far unknown electromagnetic response, a

diode in which the forward direction can be switched by the application of a magnetic field. I

will review the current state of the field, and discuss ongoing projects in my department.

[1] C. Guo et al., Nature 611, 461-466 (2022)

[2] X. Huang et al., PRB 106, 064510 (2022)