Transition from intrinsic to extrinsic anomalous Hall effect in the ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal PrAlGe1−xSix

Abstract

Recent reports of a large anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals (FM WSMs) have led to a resurgence of interest in this enigmatic phenomenon. However, due to a lack of tunable materials, the interplay between the intrinsic mechanism caused by Berry curvature and extrinsic mechanisms due to scattering remains unclear in FM WSMs. In this contribution, we present a thorough investigation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic AHEs in a new family of FM WSMs, PrAlGe1−xSix, where x can be tuned continuously. Based on the first-principles calculations, we show that the two end members, PrAlGe and PrAlSi, have different Fermi surfaces, but similar Weyl node structures. Experimentally, we observe moderate changes in the anomalous Hall coefficient (RS), but significant changes in the ordinary Hall coefficient (R0) in PrAlGe1−xSix as a function of x. By comparing the magnitude of R0 and RS, we identify two regimes: |R0| |RS| for x > 0.5. Through a detailed scaling analysis, we uncover a universal anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) from intrinsic contribution when x ≤ 0.5. Such a universal AHC is absent for x > 0.5. Our study, thus, reveals the significance of extrinsic mechanisms in FM WSMs and reports the first observation of the transition from the intrinsic to extrinsic AHE in PrAlGe1−xSix.