Applying a magnetic field to a Mn(Bi,Sb)2Te4 alloy triggers concurrent magnetic and topological phase transitions, according to research published in Nature Materials. This dual transition produces unexpectedly strong circular dichroism across the infrared spectrum.
A. Akrap from the Department of Physics at the University of Zagreb in Croatia and M. Orlita from the Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses at the CNRS in Grenoble, France, authored the findings. The researchers stated that they have no competing interests.
The study references broader developments in electronic properties and materials, including 2026 work by X. Jiang and colleagues in Nature Materials. It also cites prior topological and magnetic investigations by M. M. Otrokov and co-authors from 2019, foundational material research by K. S. Novoselov and colleagues from 2005, and optical analysis by A. J. Miles, R. W. Janes, and B. A. Wallace published in 2021. Additional citations include theoretical and quantum physics papers by D. G. Suárez-Forero and co-authors in 2025, M. Kargarian and colleagues in 2015, S. P. Mukherjee and J. P. Carbotte in 2017, A. A. Soluyanov and colleagues in 2015, and S. Tchoumakov, M. Civelli, and M. O. Goerbig in 2016.
Springer Nature published the version of record on August 6, 2026, under the digital object identifier 10.1038/s41563-026-02709-0. Institutional access is available through participating organizations, while individual digital article purchases range from $1.95 to $39.95. A 30-day Nature+ subscription is priced at $32.99, and a full annual subscription offering 12 print issues alongside online access costs $259.00, equivalent to $21.58 per issue.
