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January 16, 2026Advanced Science1 citationsOpen Access

Spectroscopic Evidence of Edge‐Localized States in an Antiferromagnet Topological Insulator NdBi

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AAAvior AlmoalemRCRebecca ChanBKBrinda Kuthanazhi

Key Points

  • The aim is to explore edge-localized states in the antiferromagnet NdBi and assess its potential for hosting Majorana modes.
  • Combined spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with quasiparticle interference to study the material.
  • Analyzed ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) terminations on the surface.
  • Investigated step edges as magnetic domain walls to assess 1D edge modes.
  • Identified distinct signatures of FM and AFM terminations.
  • Demonstrated that step edges on FM surfaces host well-defined 1D edge modes.
  • Noted that 1D edge modes vanish above the Néel temperature.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Materials exhibiting non‐trivial topology and magnetism hold the promise of hosting 1D chiral edge states, which can carry dissipationless currents and, when proximitized to a superconductor, develop Majorana modes. However, persistent materials challenges arising from magnetic and electronic disorder have hindered the realization and measurement of these states, and limited the observation of the Quantum Anomalous Hall effect to low temperatures. Here we study the topological antiferromagnet NdBi, which belongs to a new class of magnetic topological materials, i.e., rare earth monopnictides. These binary topological compounds with intrinsic magnetism are not plagued by the same materials issues and may potentially offer a new platform for hosting 1D edge states. By combining spin‐polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with quasiparticle interference, we successfully identify distinct signatures of the ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) terminations. Crucially, we demonstrate that step edges on ferromagnetic surfaces, which serve as magnetic domain walls, host well‐defined 1D edge modes that vanish above the Néel temperature. Our findings position NdBi as a promising platform for further explorations of 1D chiral edge modes and future realizations of Majorana states in proximitized rare‐earth mono‐pnictides.

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Cite This Study

Almoalem et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6969d4dc940543b977709c5dhttps://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202522116
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