Consecutive topological phase transitions and colossal magnetoresistance in a magnetic topological semimetal

The combination of magnetic symmetries and electronic band topology provides a promising route for realizing topologically nontrivial quasiparticles, and the manipulation of magnetic structures may enable the switching between topological phases, with the potential for achieving functional physical properties. Here, we report measurements of the electrical resistivity of EuCd2As2 under pressure, which show an intriguing insulating dome at pressures between pC1 ~ 1.0 GPa and pC2 ~ 2.0 GPa, situated between two regimes with metallic transport. The insulating state can be fully suppressed by a small magnetic field, leading to a colossal negative magnetoresistance accessible via a modest field of ~0.2 T. First-principles calculations reveal that the dramatic evolution of the resistivity under pressure can be attributed to consecutive transitions of EuCd2As2 from a magnetic topological insulator to a trivial insulator, and then to a Weyl semimetal, with the latter resulting from a pressure-induced change in the magnetic ground state. Similarly, the colossal magnetoresistance results from a field-induced polarization of the magnetic moments, transforming EuCd2As2 from a trivial insulator to a Weyl semimetal. These findings underscore weak exchange couplings and weak magnetic anisotropy as ingredients for discovering tunable magnetic topological materials with desirable functionalities.

Feng Du, Lin Yang, Zhi Yong Nie, Ninghua Wu, Yong Li, Shuaihua Luo, Ye Chen, Dajun Su, Michael Smidman, Youguo Shi, Chao Cao, Frank Steglich, Yu Song, Huiqi Yuan