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Formation of a simple cubic antiferromagnet through charge ordering in a double Dirac material
Phys. Rev. B 112, 155139 – Published 16 October, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5cdt-yhnx
Abstract
Following the topological classification of electronic phases, interest has grown in materials with unique electronic or magnetic properties driven by topology and interactions. Here we report that the topologically nontrivial mixed valent intermetalllic undergoes long-range charge ordering at K, wherein and Van Vleck ions on a body-centered-cubic lattice separate into two interpenetrating simple cubic sublattices. The reduced symmetry transmutes eightfold double Dirac states into fourfold Dirac states and leads to a simple cubic Heisenberg antiferromagnet with G-type antiferromagnetic order for K. While time reversal symmetry is broken, its combination with nearest neighbor lattice translation can form a nonsymmorphic symmetry preserving the fourfold Dirac point. The application of a magnetic field yields a spin flop transition at the lowest temperatures but, as a consequence of the extreme isotropy of Eu, that phase transition turns into a crossover at higher temperatures. Our work demonstrates how charge order modifies topology in and exposes an archetypal simple cubic Heisenberg antiferromagnet.