Work

Giant tunable topological Hall effect in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrIrO3 bilayers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The topological Hall effect (THE) arises from a Berry phase imprinted on conduction electron spins as they traverse noncollinear magnetic textures. It constitutes a transport hallmark of chiral magnetism. Very large THE signals are theoretically expected in oxide heterostructures combining 3d or 4d ferromagnets and 5d metals with strong spin–orbit coupling. However, experimental realizations have so far yielded only modest signals whose emergence could not be linked to any chiral magnetic texture. Using ultrathin La₀.₇Sr₀.₃MnO₃/SrIrO₃ bilayers, here we demonstrate a THE that can be switched ON and OFF by the magnetic history, and we establish a direct one-to-one correspondence between the transport anomaly and the emergence—or disappearance—of a chiral magnetic texture at the interface. Further, the associated THE signal is giant, reaching values an order of magnitude larger than observed earlier in analogous systems. Beyond providing a rare, unequivocal evidence for a pure THE, the controllable link between magnetic chirality and the giant Hall signal at oxide interfaces shows a path for engineering reconfigurable conspicuous topological responses, which could impact spintronic sensing and beyond. The topological Hall effect is a key transport signature of chiral magnetism, yet experimental realizations in oxide heterostructures have been limited. Here, the authors use ultrathin La₀.₇Sr₀.₃MnO₃/SrIrO₃ bilayers to demonstrate a switchable, giant topological Hall effect linked to chiral magnetic textures, paving the way for advanced spintronic applications

Source: Communications Materials

DOI: 10.1038/s43246-026-01255-1