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Evolution of interlayer and intralayer magnetism in three atomically thin chromium trihalides.

TitleEvolution of interlayer and intralayer magnetism in three atomically thin chromium trihalides.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsKim, HHo, Yang, B, Li, S, Jiang, S, Jin, C, Tao, Z, Nichols, G, Sfigakis, F, Zhong, S, Li, C, Tian, S, Cory, DG, Miao, G-X, Shan, J, Mak, KFai, Lei, H, Sun, K, Zhao, L, Tsen, AW
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume116
Issue23
Pagination11131-11136
Date Published2019 Jun 04
ISSN1091-6490
Abstract

We conduct a comprehensive study of three different magnetic semiconductors, CrI, CrBr, and CrCl, by incorporating both few-layer and bilayer samples in van der Waals tunnel junctions. We find that the interlayer magnetic ordering, exchange gap, magnetic anisotropy, and magnon excitations evolve systematically with changing halogen atom. By fitting to a spin wave theory that accounts for nearest-neighbor exchange interactions, we are able to further determine a simple spin Hamiltonian describing all three systems. These results extend the 2D magnetism platform to Ising, Heisenberg, and XY spin classes in a single material family. Using magneto-optical measurements, we additionally demonstrate that ferromagnetism can be stabilized down to monolayer in more isotropic CrBr, with transition temperature still close to that of the bulk.

DOI10.1073/pnas.1902100116
Alternate JournalProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
PubMed ID31110023
PubMed Central IDPMC6561243