In-plane antiferromagnetic moments and magnetic polaron in the axion topological insulator candidate EuIn2As2

Topological insulator with antiferromagnetic order can serve as an ideal platform for the realization of axion electrodynamics. In this paper, we report a systematic study of the axion topological insulator candidate EuIn$_2$As$_2$. A linear energy dispersion across the Fermi level confirms the existence of the proposed hole-type Fermi pocket. Spin-flop transitions occur with magnetic fields applied within the $ab$-plane while are absent for fields parallel to the $c$-axis. Anisotropic magnetic phase diagrams are observed and the orientation of the ground magnetic moment is found to be within the $ab$-plane. The magnetoresistivity for EuIn$_2$As$_2$ behaves non-monotonic as a function of field strength. It exhibits angular dependent evolving due to field-driven and temperature-driven magnetic states. These results indicate that the magnetic states of EuIn$_2$As$_2$ strongly affect the transport properties as well as the topological nature.