Nature of the Magnetic Anisotropy in the Two-Dimensional Honeycomb Ferromagnet CrI<sub>3</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

The recent discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals crystals, such as CrI3, has drawn much interest due to its potential for future 2D spintronic applications; however, the nature of the anisotropic magnetic interactions that allow 2D ferromagnetism and determine TC in these materials remains poorly understood. In this work, we provide a detailed description of the anisotropic spin interactions in monolayer CrI3 using a microscopic spin Hamiltonian constructed from the symmetries of the system. We present the results of our mean field theory and linear spin-wave theory calculations for this model and explain which interaction is responsible for stabilizing 2D ferromagnetic order in this system. Finally, we provide estimates for the strength of each interaction by comparing these results to our experimental data from angle-dependent ferromagnetic resonance on bulk CrI3 single crystals.

*NT acknowledges the support of the Center for Emergent Materials: an NSF MRSEC, under award number DMR-1420451. FU acknowledges support from the DOE-BES grant DE-FG02-07ER46423.

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Presenters

  • Franz Utermohlen

    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University

Authors

  • Franz Utermohlen

    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University

  • Inhee Lee

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University

  • Kyusung Hwang

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University

  • Daniel Weber

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University
    • Department of Chemistry, Ohio State University

  • Chi Zhang

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University

  • Johan Van Tol

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Lab

  • Stephen Hill

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
    • Florida State University

  • Joshua E. Goldberger

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University

  • Nandini Trivedi

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, Ohio State University
    • The Ohio State University
    • Physics, Ohio State University

  • P Chris Hammel

    • Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, Ohio State University