Dirac nodal line metal for topological antiferromagnetic spintronics

Topological antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics is an emerging field of research, which exploits the Neel vector to control the topological electronic states and the associated spin-dependent transport properties. A recently discovered Neel spin-orbit torque has been proposed to electrically manipulate Dirac band crossings in antiferromagnets; however, a reliable AFM material to realize these properties in practice is missing. Here, we predict that room temperature AFM metal MnPd$_{2}$ allows the electrical control of the Dirac nodal line by the Neel spin-orbit torque. Based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, we show that reorientation of the Neel vector leads to switching between the symmetry-protected degenerate state and the gapped state associated with the dispersive Dirac nodal line at the Fermi energy. The calculated spin Hall conductivity strongly depends on the Neel vector orientation and can be used to experimentally detect the predicted effect using a proposed spin-orbit torque device. Our results indicate that AFM Dirac nodal line metal MnPd$_{2}$ represents a promising material for topological AFM spintronics.