Part-per-million quantization and current-induced breakdown of the quantum anomalous Hall effect

E. J. Fox, I. T. Rosen, Yanfei Yang, George R. Jones, Randolph E. Elmquist, Xufeng Kou, Lei Pan, Kang L. Wang, D. Goldhaber-Gordon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the quantum anomalous Hall effect, quantized Hall resistance and vanishing longitudinal resistivity are predicted to result from the presence of dissipationless, chiral edge states and an insulating two-dimensional bulk, without requiring an external magnetic field. Here, we explore the potential of this effect in magnetic topological insulator thin films for metrological applications. Using a cryogenic current comparator system, we measure quantization of the Hall resistance to within one part per million and, at lower current bias, longitudinal resistivity under 10 mΩ at zero magnetic field. Increasing the current density past a critical value leads to a breakdown of the quantized, low-dissipation state, which we attribute to electron heating in bulk current flow. We further investigate the prebreakdown regime by measuring transport dependence on temperature, current, and geometry, and find evidence for bulk dissipation, including thermal activation and possible variable-range hopping.

Original languageEnglish
Article number075145
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume98
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Aug 27

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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