Distinct switching of chiral transport in the kagome metals KV3Sb5 and CsV3Sb5.

The kagome metals AV₃Sb₅ (A = K, Rb, Cs) present an ideal sandbox to study the interrelation between multiple coexisting correlated phases such as charge order and superconductivity. So far, no consensus on the microscopic nature of these states has been reached as the proposals struggle to explain all their exotic physical properties. Among these, field-switchable electric magneto-chiral anisotropy (eMChA) in CsV₃Sb₅ provides intriguing evidence for a rewindable electronic chirality, yet the other family members have not been likewise investigated. Here, we present a comparative study of magneto-chiral transport between CsV₃Sb₅ and KV₃Sb₅. Despite their similar electronic structure, KV₃Sb₅ displays negligible eMChA, if any, and with no field switchability. This is in stark contrast to the non-saturating eMChA in CsV₃Sb₅ even in high fields up to 35 T. In light of their similar band structures, the stark difference in eMChA suggests its origin in the correlated states. Clearly, the V kagome nets alone are not sufficient to describe the physics and the interactions with their environment are crucial in determining the nature of their low-temperature state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]