Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Using first-principles calculations, we predict a Chern insulating phase in thin films of the ferromagnetic semimetal GdN. In contrast to previously proposed Chern insulator candidates, which mostly rely on honeycomb lattices, this system affords a great chance to realize the quantum anomalous Hall effect on a square lattice without either a magnetic substrate or transition metal doping, making synthesis easier. The band inversion between the $5d$ orbitals of Gd and $2p$ orbitals of N is verified by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, and the band gap can be as large as 100 meV within the GdN trilayer. With a further increase of film thickness, the band gap tends to close and the metallic bulk property becomes obvious.
Source: Physical Review B
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2963166873