Polarization dependent photoemission as a probe of the magnetic ground state in the van der Waals ferromagnet VI3

Abstract

Van der Waals ferromagnets are thrilling materials from both a fundamental and technological point of view. VI3 is an interesting example, with a complex magnetism that differentiates it from the first reported Cr based layered ferromagnets. Here, we show in an indirect way through angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments, the importance of spin–orbit coupling setting the electronic properties of this material. Our light polarized photoemission measurements point to a ground state with a half-filled e±′ doublet, where a gap opening is triggered by spin–orbit coupling enhanced by electronic correlations.