Spectroscopic Evidence of Antiferromagnetic Valence Band Reconstruction in EuZn₂As₂

Eu-based materials have been recognized as an interesting platform for studying the interplay between localized Eu moments and itinerant electrons. These spin-carrier interactions produce modifications to electronic transport that have their origin in (a) scattering of itinerant carriers and (b) reconstruction of the electronic structure. Here, we perform detailed magnetoresistance and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements on Eu-ternary pnictide, EuZn₂As₂, in order to evaluate the role of the valence band structure reconfiguration in this system. Through transport measurements, we confirm the presence of a strong negative magnetoresistance most pronounced at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature of 19 K. Our ARPES results reveal concurrent reconstruction of the valence electronic states across the AFM transition. This work offers insight into the interplay of electronic properties and magnetic ordering in rare-earth based compounds.