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Anisotropy of the magnetic and transport properties in EuZn$_2$As$_2$

Several recent studies have shown that the anisotropy in the magnetic structure of \ECA\ plays a significant role in stabilizing the Weyl nodes. To investigate the relationship between magnetic anisotropy and Weyl physics, we present a comparative study between EuZn$_2$As$_2$ and EuCd$_2$As$_2$ that are isostructural but with different magnetic anisotropy. We performed structural analysis, electronic transport, and magnetization experiments on millimeter-sized single crystals of EuZn$_2$As$_2$, and compared the results to those of EuCd$_2$As$_2$. By combining the first principle calculations and neutron diffraction experiment, we identify the magnetic ground state of EuZn$_2$As$_2$ as A-type antiferromagnetic order with a transition temperature ($T_\mathrm{N}$ = 19.6 K) twice that of EuCd$_2$As$_2$. Like EuCd$_2$As$_2$, the negative magnetoresistance of EuZn$_2$As$_2$ is observed after suppressing the resistivity peak at $T_\mathrm{N}$ with increasing fields. However, the anisotropy in both transport and magnetization are much reduced in EuZn$_2$As$_2$. The difference could be ascribed to the weaker spin-orbit coupling, more localized $d$-orbitals, and a larger contribution from the Eu $s$-orbitals in the zinc compound, as suggested by the electronic band calculations. The same band structure effect could be also responsible for the observation of a smaller non-linear anomalous Hall effect in EuZn$_2$As$_2$ compared to EuCd$_2$As$_2$.