Competing and Anisotropic Exchange Interactions in the Kagome Lattice Ferromagnet Co₃Sn₂S₂

The kagome lattice ferromagnet, Co₃Sn₂S₂, serves as template for a host of materials that exhibit exotic topological states, as well as a giant anomalous Hall state—a momentous realization in condensed matter physics. The anisotropic exchange interactions are probed by applying external magnetic fields in various directions along major crystal axes and the magneto-optical response is recorded. When magnetic fields are applied along the a–b plane, long-range magnetism forms and grows with increasing temperature. This counterintuitive behavior does not take place when the magnetic field is applied at a slight angle off the a–b plane. In fact, the opposite effect is observed for this exact configuration, as well as for other fields arrangements. Ab initio theoretical calculations reveal that anisotropic exchange interactions are the underlying mechanism leading to this peculiar behavior. Furthermore, the long-range ferromagnetic order along the c-axis is thought to coexist with an antiferromagnetic, or spin glass, state in the a–b plane, before becoming paramagnetic above the Curie temperature (T_c). These two coexisting magnetic states are thought to compete as the temperature approaches T_c, with the antiferromagnetic state gaining strength compared to the ferromagnetic order.