Fig. 3: Zero-field magnetization switchings probed by transports.
From: Nonvolatile magnetization switching in a single-layer magnetic topological insulator
a The first harmonic Hall resistance (\({R}_{\perp }^{\omega }\)) measured by \({I}_{{{{{{\rm{ac}}}}}}}\) (10 μA) except a pulse current Ip (50 μA, 200 ms) is applied under zero field, which results in a sudden jump in \({R}_{\perp }^{\omega }\) (dashed arrow). The gray loops are the full hysteresis loops measured using \({I}_{{{{{{\rm{ac}}}}}}}\) as references. b \({\mu }_{0}{H}_{z}\)-dependent \({R}_{\perp }^{\omega }\) probed by different current configurations. c, d \({R}_{\perp }^{\omega }\) recorded when repeatedly applying \({I}_{{{{{{\rm{p}}}}}}}\) of different amplitudes under zero field. e Phenomenological explanation to the observed magnetization switching. The red circles represent the magnetic state, blue dashed lines indicate the possible transitions, and \(\triangle E\) is the energy difference between different magnetic states. Activation energies given by various \({I}_{{{{{{\rm{dc}}}}}}}\) or \({I}_{{{{{{\rm{p}}}}}}}\) can drive the magnetic state out from different local minima to others (navy dashed arrows).
