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    Controllable and continuous quantum phase transitions in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators

    Shengjie Xu1,*, Zhijian Shi1,*, Ming Yang2, Jingwei Zhang1, Hang Xu1, Haifeng Feng1, Ningyan Cheng3, Qing Gao4,5, Jianfeng Wang1,† et al.

    Weichang Hao1,2,‡ and Yi Du1,2,§

    • 1School of Physics, Beihang University, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
    • 2Analysis & Testing Center of Beihang University, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    • 3Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
    • 4School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
    • 5Hangzhou Innovation Institute, Beihang University, Hangzhou 310051, China

    • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
    • †Contact author: wangjf06@buaa.edu.cn
    • ‡Contact author: whao@buaa.edu.cn
    • §Contact author: yi_du@buaa.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. B 112, 045124 – Published 15 July, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/srh7-f6wq

    Abstract

    The intrinsic magnetic topological material MnBi2Te4 has demonstrated great potential to investigate the interplay between topology and magnetism, which opens up new avenues for manipulating nontrivial electronic states and designing quantum devices. However, challenges and controversies remain due to its inevitable n-type antisite defects, hindering the experimental realization of intrinsic magnetic topological phenomena and rendering the precise control of topological phase transitions (TPTs) unachievable. Here, we study a candidate material family, Mn(1−x)GexBi2Te4, in which the heavy n-type doping features are strongly suppressed when the Ge content reaches 0.46, and multiple topological phases are well maintained with the surface Dirac point located near the Fermi level. Based on angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, transport measurements, and first-principles calculations, we reveal two magnetism-induced TPTs: the first is an antiferromagnetic-ordering-induced transition from strong topological insulator to a magnetic topological insulator as revealed by gap opening of topological surface states; the second is the external-magnetic-field-dependent transition from magnetic topological insulator to a Weyl semimetal with the gap reclosed. Our work paves the way for the realization of intrinsic magnetic topological states in the MnBi2Te4 family and provides an ideal platform for achieving controllable and continuous TPTs toward future spintronic applications.

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