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    Magnetic criticality and magnetocaloric response in MnBi2Te4 and MnBi4Te7

    Nazma Firdosh, Shreyashi Sinha, and Sujit Manna*

    • *Contact author: smanna@physics.iitd.ac.in

    Phys. Rev. B 114, 144405 – Published 4 September, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/y5tx-5vm7

    Abstract

    MnBi2Te4 and MnBi4Te7 are antiferromagnetic topological insulators belonging to the MnBi2nTe3n+1 series, where structural layering provides a natural route to tune magnetic interaction in van der Waals magnets. Despite extensive interest in their topological properties, how the insertion of Bi2Te3 quintuple layers modifies magnetic critical fluctuations near the antiferromagnetic transition remains unresolved. Here, we combine scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), critical scaling analysis and magnetocaloric measurements to directly correlate real-space structures with magnetic criticality. STM reveals atomically flat septuple-layer terraces in MnBi2Te4, whereas MnBi4Te7 displays coexisting septuple and quintuple-layer terminations reflecting its alternating stacking sequence. MnBi2Te4 exhibits robust three-dimensional Ising-like critical behavior together with a distinct low-temperature first-order transition. In contrast, MnBi4Te7 displays crossover-dominated criticality arising from weakened interlayer exchange and competing magnetic phases. Correspondingly, the magnetocaloric response differs significantly between the two compounds. MnBi2Te4 shows dual-type magnetocaloric behavior with a sharp field-induced sign reversal of the isothermal magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM). It exhibits both inverse (−ΔSM<0) and conventional (−ΔSM>0) magnetocaloric effects. In contrast, MnBi4Te7 shows only conventional magnetocaloric response with a broad positive entropy peak. These results establish structural layering as a key parameter governing magnetic critical fluctuations and magnetocaloric behavior in MnBi2nTe3n+1 topological magnets.

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