Abstract

The spin-orbit torque in antiferromagnetic (AF) systems with broken inversion symmetry allows manipulation of the antiferromagnetic order by electrical currents. We propose to investigate antiferromagnets in which additionally topologically protected phases exist, which are connected to the AF order, and which lead to various emergent phenomena that can be used to detect the AF states. In particular, we focus on optical and on thermal embodiments of these effects, which we will employ to study the ultrafast magnetization dynamics of AFs.