- Open Access
Spin Nematic Liquid Crystal and Scalar Spin Chirality in Tetragonal Lattice
Phys. Rev. X 16, 041001 – Published 1 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/w1nt-6s12
Abstract
A spin nematic order, analogous to a nematic liquid crystal, characterizes the spontaneous breaking of spin-space rotational symmetry while preserving time-reversal () symmetry. On the other hand, the order parameter characterizing the -symmetry breaking is the composite three-spin order, i.e., the scalar spin chirality (SSC) , where , , are spins at neighboring sites , , , respectively, and nonzero SSC is known to induce anomalous Hall effect (AHE). Although a spin nematic phase has been suggested in the frustrated magnets and the square-lattice iridate, how a spin nematic phase might affect magneto-transport properties is unknown. Here we use polarized neutron scattering to show that tetragonal lattice (, Yb) is a strictly -axis-aligned collinear antiferromagnet (-type) with and 290 K. On cooling from 450 K to , low-energy spin excitations in spontaneously change from isotropic to anisotropic in spin space within the tetragonal plane, forming a dynamic spin nematic phase around 400 K due to heavy Yb-induced spin-orbit coupling, before gapping out below . Similar polarized neutron scattering measurements on reveal isotropic paramagnetic scattering without a spin nematic phase above . Under an in-plane external magnetic field, the moments may interact with the dynamic spin nematic phase to induce nonzero SSC, giving rise to AHE and anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) in that is absent in above . Theoretical analysis of Ginzburg-Landau theory based on the symmetry indicates that the coupling terms between the nematic order and SSC of 5 order in the spin operators are allowed under an external magnetic field . This could explain the rapid increase of AHE as a function of in . Our results, therefore, provide compelling evidence for dynamic SSC-induced AHE and ANE in the paramagnetic phase of a compensated collinear antiferromagnet, opening a new avenue for the physics of composite orders of multiple spins for room-temperature spintronics without magnetic order.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Popular Summary
Generating transverse electrical responses like the anomalous Hall effect without net magnetization or long-range magnetic order remains challenging because conventional transport mechanisms rely on single-spin order parameters. We addressed this limitation by conducting neutron scattering experiments on , demonstrating that a dynamic spin nematic state couples to applied magnetic fields to generate finite scalar spin chirality above the magnetic transition temperature.
We found that the coupling of moments to fluctuating manganese spins produces both an anomalous Hall effect and an anomalous Nernst effect over a wide temperature range, an effect absent in nonmagnetic . Our work establishes composite spin orders as a viable driver for topological transport, paving the way for spintronic devices operating without long-range magnetic order.
Article Text
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