Anisotropic Spin Research Articles

Honeycomb rare-earth magnets with anisotropic exchange interactions

We study the rare-earth magnets on a honeycomb lattice, and are particularly interested in the experimental consequences of the highly anisotropic spin interaction due to the spin-orbit entanglement. We perform a high-temperature series expansion using a generic nearest-neighbor Hamiltonian with anisotropic interactions, and obtain the heat capacity, the parallel and perpendicular spin susceptibilities, and the magnetic torque coefficients. We further examine the electron spin resonance linewidth as an important signature of the anisotropic spin interactions. Due to the small interaction energy scale of the rare-earth moments, it is experimentally feasible to realize the strong-field regime. Therefore, we perform the spin-wave analysis and study the possibility of topological magnons when a strong field is applied to the system. The application and relevance to the rare-earth Kitaev materials are discussed.

Anisotropic S = 1/2 Kramers Doublets: g-Matrix, the Tensor G, and Dynamics of the Spin and Magnetic Moment

The properties and dynamics of isotropic electron spins are drastically simpler than for anisotropic spin systems with S = 1/2. The classical rotating coordinate frame with axes moving at the microwave frequency provides convenient descriptions of isotropic electron spins, their magnetic moments and their magnetic resonance behavior but does not provide a suitable description for paramagnetic centers having significant anisotropy in their $$\overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\leftrightarrow}$}} {g}$$ matrix. The relative merits of several different frames are discussed including the laboratory frame, a tilted rotating frame and effective field frames. It is seen that simulations of the anisotropic spins are more easily performed with a different frame for each orientation of the spin, but results can be readily visualized in the laboratory frame.

Distinct reduction of Knight shift in superconducting state of Sr2RuO4 under uniaxial strain

Shortly after the discovery of superconductivity in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, spin-triplet pairing was proposed and further corroborated by a constant Knight shift ($K$) across the transition temperature (T$_c$). However, a recent experiment observed a drop in $K$ at T$_c$ which becomes larger under uniaxial strain, ruling out several spin-triplet scenarios. Here we show that inter-orbital spin-triplet pairing features a d-vector that rotates when uniaxial strain is applied, leading to a larger drop in the spin polarization perpendicular to the strain direction, distinct from spin-singlet pairing. We propose that anisotropic spin polarization under strain will ultimately differentiate triplet vs.~singlet pairing.

Integrability and dark states in an anisotropic central spin model

Central spin models describe a variety of quantum systems in which a spin-1/2 qubit interacts with a bath of surrounding spins, as realized in quantum dots and defect centers in diamond. We show that the fully anisotropic central spin Hamiltonian with (XX) Heisenberg interactions is integrable. Building on the class of integrable Richardson-Gaudin models, we derive an extensive set of conserved quantities and obtain the exact eigenstates using the Bethe ansatz. These states divide into two exponentially large classes: bright states, where the qubit is entangled with the bath, and dark states, where it is not. We discuss how dark states limit qubit-assisted spin bath polarization and provide a robust long-lived quantum memory for qubit states.

Quantum-classical crossover in the spin- 12 Heisenberg-Kitaev kagome magnet

The spin-1/2 Heisenberg kagome antiferromagnet is one of the paradigmatic playgrounds for frustrated quantum magnetism, with an extensive number of competing resonating valence bond (RVB) states emerging at low energies, including gapped and gapless spin liquids and valence bond crystals. Here we revisit the crossover from this quantum RVB phase to a semiclassical regime brought about by anisotropic Kitaev interactions, and focus on the precise mechanisms underpinning this crossover. To this end, we introduce a simple parametrization of the classical ground states (GSs) in terms of emergent Ising-like variables, and use this parametrizaton: i) to construct an effective low-energy description of the order-by-disorder mechanism operating in a large part of the phase diagram, and ii) to contrast, side by side, exact diagonalization data obtained from the full basis with that obtained from the restricted (orthonormalized) basis of classical GSs. The results reveal that fluctuation corrections from states outside the restricted basis are strongly quenched inside the semiclassical regime (due to the large anisotropy spin gaps), and that the RVB phase survives up to a relatively large value of Kitaev anisotropy $K$. We further find that the pure Kitaev model admits a subextensive number of one-dimensional symmetries, which explains naturally the absence of classical and quantum order by disorder reported previously.

Flat-band physics in the spin-1/2 sawtooth chain

We consider the strongly anisotropic spin-1/2 XXZ model on the sawtooth-chain lattice with ferromagnetic longitudinal interaction Jzz = ΔJ and aniferromagnetic transversal interaction Jxx = Jyy = J > 0. At Δ = −1∕2 the lowest one-magnon excitation band is dispersionless (flat) leading to a massively degenerate set of ground states. Interestingly, this model admits a three-coloring representation of the ground-state manifold [H.J. Changlani et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 117202 (2018)]. We characterize this ground-state manifold and elaborate the low-temperature thermodynamics of the system. We illustrate the manifestation of the flat-band physics of the anisotropic model by comparison with two isotropic flat-band Heisenberg sawtooth chains. Our analytical consideration is complemented by exact diagonalization and finite-temperature Lanczos method calculations.Graphical abstract

Magnetic Two-Dimensional Chromium Trihalides: A Theoretical Perspective.

The discovery of ferromagnetic order in monolayer two-dimensional (2D) crystals has opened a new venue in the field of 2D materials. Two-dimensional magnets are not only interesting on their own, but their integration in van der Waals heterostructures allows for the observation of new and exotic effects in the ultrathin limit. The family of chromium trihalides, CrI3, CrBr3, and CrCl3, is so far the most studied among magnetic 2D crystals. In this Mini Review, we provide a perspective of the state of the art of the theoretical understanding of magnetic 2D trihalides, most of which will also be relevant for other 2D magnets, such as vanadium trihalides. We discuss both the well-established facts, such as the origin of the magnetic moment and magnetic anisotropy, and address as well open issues such as the nature of the anisotropic spin couplings and the magnitude of the magnon gap. Recent theoretical predictions on Moiré magnets and magnetic skyrmions are also discussed. Finally, we give some prospects about the future interest of these materials and possible device applications.

Spin-resolved photomodulated electronic properties of ferromagnetic kagome lattices

We study theoretically the band structures and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of both monolayer and bilayer kagome lattices irradiated by variously polarized monochromatic light based on the Floquet-Bloch theory. The polarization of light plays distinctive roles in the different energy regimes of kagome bands. The linearly polarized light predominantly affects the flat bands at the bottom of the kagome band, while the circularly polarized light engenders spin-resolved massive Dirac cones whose spin species can be switched by the polarization direction. The edge states of kagome ribbons exhibit a spatially anisotropic quantum spin Hall effect conforming to the nontrivial topology of kagome bands. In kagome bilayers, we take into account the electric field component of monochromatic light which results in a band gap in flat bands in the case of oblique incidence. This shows that the polarized light provides us a versatile tool to manipulate not only the two-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional band structures, but also the anomalous Hall conductivity by either the polarization or the incident plane of monochromatic light.

Strain-controlled spin-splitting in the persistent spin helix state of two-dimensional SnSe monolayer

Abstract Recently, ferroelectric materials have attracted much attention in the field of spintronics since they enable to manipulation of spin splitting and spin textures via electric control of electric polarization. Here, two-dimensional ferroelectric SnSe monolayer (ML) comprises a promising candidate for spintronics since it has large and switchable in-plane electric polarization. However, the application of strain strongly modifies the electronic properties of the SnSe ML, which is expected to significantly affect the properties of the spin-splitting bands. By using fully-relativistic density-functional theory calculations, we predict that a strongly anisotropic spin splitting is observed in the energy bands near both the conduction band minimum (CBM) and valence band maximum (VBM), which can be effectively tuned by applying a small uniaxial in-plane strain. We demonstrate that these spin-splitting bands exhibit a unidirectional out-of-plane spin configuration in the momentum space, giving rise to a long-lived persistent spin helix (PSH) state. Importantly, a giant spin splitting (up to 245 meV) is achieved under the uniaxial in-plane tensile strain without losing the nature of the PSH state, thus offering a possibility for realizing efficient spintronic devices enabling operation at room temperature.

Spin-1 pyrochlore antiferromagnets: Theory, model, and materials’ survey

Pyrochlore magnets can be a unique platform to demonstrate numerous important concepts and applications of frustrated magnetic physics in modern condensed matter physics. Most works on pyrochlore magnets deal with the interacting spin-1/2 local moments, while much less works have studied the spin-1 systems. We here review the physics with interacting spin-1 local moments on the pyrochlore lattice to illustrate the potentially interesting physics associated with spin-1 magnets. The generic pyrochlore spin-1 model includes the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg interaction, the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and the single-ion spin anisotropy. The global phase diagram of this generic spin model is reviewed, and the relation between different quantum phases in the phase diagram is clarified. The critical properties of the transition from the parent quantum paramagnet to the proximate orders are discussed. The presence of quantum order by disorder in the parts of the ordered phases is analyzed. The elementary excitations with respect to the ground states are further reviewed, and the topological natures of these excitations are carefully addressed. The materials’ relevance of the spin-1 pyrochlore magnets are finally reviewed. This review may provide insights about the interesting spin-1 local moments on frustrated systems.

Q-systems with boundary parameters

Q-systems provide an efficient way of solving Bethe equations. We formulate here Q-systems for both the isotropic and anisotropic open Heisenberg quantum spin-1/2 chains with diagonal boundary magnetic fields. We check these Q-systems using novel discrete Wronskian-type formulas (relating the fundamental Q-function and its dual) that involve the boundary parameters.

Independence of the spin current from the Néel vector orientation in antiferromagnet CoO

Spin pumping from ferromagnetic Fe into antiferromagnetic CoO across a Ag spacer layer was studied using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in Py/CoO/Ag/Fe/Ag(001). The thin Py film on top of CoO permits an alignment of the CoO N\'eel vector through field cooling in two otherwise equivalent [110] and $[1\overline{1}0]$ crystalline axes which are parallel and perpendicular to the Fe magnetization direction, respectively. Fe FMR linewidth is measured as a function of Ag thickness in 10--20-GHz frequency range and in 180--330 K temperature range. We find that there exists an anisotropy in the Fe FMR damping for parallel and perpendicular alignment of the Fe and CoO spins. However, such anisotropic damping exists only at thin Ag thickness where there exists a magnetic interlayer coupling between Fe and CoO, and vanishes at thick Ag thickness where the interlayer coupling becomes negligible but permitting spin-current transmission into CoO. Our result indicates the absence of anisotropic spin current for parallel and perpendicular alignment of the Fe and CoO spin axes.

Influence of He+-ion beam induced effect on ultrafast quantum spin-state switching dynamics in exchange bias Co–Mn FM/AFM systems

A study of magnetic or spin logic appears as an appealing alternative due to its nonvolatile character, which can boost up switching on/off. The influences of Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction on non-classical correlations play an important role in foundations of quantum technologies such as quantum information and quantum computation. We have considered the anisotropic general spin Hamiltonian (GSH) model in presence of DM interaction in addition to the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert (LLG)-model in a pulse magnetic field. For study of ultrafast spin dynamics in exchange bias Co–Mn FM/AFM systems, we present some quantum circuits for a deterministic quantum computing in Co–Mn FM/AFM systems.

AGN anisotropic radiative feedback set by black hole spin

ABSTRACT We consider the impact of anisotropic radiation on the active galactic nucleus (AGN) radiative dusty feedback. The radiation pattern originating from the accretion disc is determined by the central black hole (BH) spin. Here we analyse how such BH spin-induced angular dependence affects the dynamics and energetics of the radiation pressure-driven outflows, as well as AGN obscuration and BH accretion. In addition, we explore the effect of a spatially varying dust-to-gas ratio on the outflow propagation. We obtain two distinct trends for high-spin and low-spin objects, providing a direct connection between anisotropic feedback and BH spin. In the case of maximum spin, powerful quasi-spherical outflows can propagate on large scales, at all inclination angles with fairly uniform energetics. In contrast, in the case of zero spin, only weaker bipolar outflows can be driven in the polar directions. As a result, high BH spins can efficiently clear out the obscuring gas from most directions, whereas low BH spins can only remove dusty gas from the polar regions, hence also determining the overall AGN obscuration geometry. Due to such anisotropic feedback, high BH spins can prevent accretion of gas from most directions (except in the equatorial plane), while low BH spins allow inflows to proceed from a wider range of directions. This may have important implications for the BH growth in the early Universe. Anisotropic radiative dusty feedback, ruled by the BH spin, may thus play a major role in shaping AGN evolution over cosmic time.

Anisotropy of the spin-polarized edge current in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide zigzag nanoribbons

We report anisotropic spin polarization of edge currents in ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ monolayer zigzag nanoribbons (ZNRs) deposited on either nonmagnetic or ferromagnetic insulator substrates. We employ an 11-band tight-binding model to calculate the electronic band structures of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) monolayers and their corresponding nanoribbons in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC) and magnetic proximity effect produced by ferromagnetic substrate. We adopt the nonequilibrium Green's function method together with Landauer-B\uttiker formalism to study the quantum transport behavior stemming from the edge states of ZNRs. We demonstrate that the spin-polarized edge current can be generated in both ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ ZNRs with RSOC. We find that the spin polarization spreads out in all three directions. This is in stark contrast to what occurs in zigzag graphene nanoribbons, for which the polarization only exists in the transverse direction (across the width of ribbons). In addition, the spin polarization direction strongly depends on the strength of the intrinsic SOC component. The interplay of Rashba and intrinsic SOC is crucial for the spin polarization of the currents in any spatial direction. For TMDCs with stronger intrinsic SOC such as in ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ monolayer ZNRs, we observe that the spin polarization along the perpendicular direction to the plane of the ZNR can be as large as $90%$. Moreover, the unusual anisotropy of the spin polarization can be further enhanced by the magnetic proximity effect. These results open up possibilities for the generation of tunable high-spin polarization currents in ZNRs without application of an external magnetic field.

Chiral Magnonics: Reprogrammable Nanoscale Spin Wave Networks Based on Chiral Domain Walls.

SummarySpin waves offer promising perspectives as information carriers for future computational architectures beyond conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, owing to their benefits for device minimizations and low-ohmic losses. Although plenty of magnonic devices have been proposed previously, scalable nanoscale networks based on spin waves are still missing. Here, we demonstrate a reprogrammable two-dimensional spin wave network by combining the chiral exchange spin waves and chiral domain walls. The spin-wave network can be extended to two dimensions and offers unprecedented control of exchange spin waves. Each cell in the network can excite, transmit, and detect spin waves independently in the chiral domain wall, and spin-wave logics are also demonstrated. Our results open up perspectives for integrating spin waves into future logic and computing circuits and networks.

In-plane anisotropy of the hole g factor in CdTe/(Cd,Mg)Te quantum wells studied by spin-dependent photon echoes

We use the two-pulse spin-dependent photon echo technique to study the in-plane hole spin anisotropy in a 20~nm-thick CdTe/Cd$_{0.76}$Mg$_{0.24}$Te single quantum well by exciting the donor-bound exciton resonance. We take advantage of the photon echo sensitivity to the relative phase of the electron and hole spin precession and study various interactions contributing to the hole in-plane spin properties. The main contribution is found to arise from the crystal cubic symmetry described by the Luttinger parameter $q=0.095$, which is substantially larger than the one theoretically expected for CdTe or found in other quantum well structures. Another contribution is induced by the strain within the quantum well. These two contributions manifest as different harmonics of the spin precession frequencies in the photon echo experiment, when strength and orientation of the Voigt magnetic field are varied. The magnitude of the effective in-plane hole $g$ factor is found to vary in the range $|\tilde{g_h}|$=0.125--0.160 in the well plane.

Acoustic ferromagnetic resonance and spin pumping induced by surface acoustic waves

Voltage induced magnetization dynamics of magnetic thin films is a valuable tool to study anisotropic fields, exchange couplings, magnetization damping and spin pumping mechanism. A particularly well established technique is the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) generated by the coupling of microwave photons and magnetization eigenmodes in the GHz range. Here we review the basic concepts of the so-called acoustic-FMR (a-FMR) induced by the coupling of surface acoustic waves (SAW) and magnetization of thin films. Interestingly, additional to the benefits of the microwave excited FMR technique, the coupling between SAW and magnetization also offers fertile ground to study magnon-phonon and spin rotation couplings. We describe the in-plane magnetic field angle dependence of the a-FMR by measuring the absorption / transmission of SAW and the attenuation of SAW in the presence of rotational motion of the lattice, and show the consequent generation of spin current by acoustic spin pumping.

Effect of interchain coupling in the frustrated spin one heisenberg model with easy plane single ion anisotropy

We study the quantum disordered phase of the anisotropic Heisenberg spin one model with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions, frustrating antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor interactions along the chain and antiferromagnetic interchain couplings along the axes perpendicular to the chain. We use the SU(3) Schwinger boson technique and calculate the phase diagram at zero temperature. The gap as a function of temperature is also presented.

Spin-excitation anisotropy in the bilayer iron-based superconductorCaKFe4As4

We use polarized inelastic neutron scattering to study the spin-excitations anisotropy in the bilayer iron-based superconductor CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ ($T_c$ = 35 K). In the superconducting state, both odd and even $L-$modulations of spin resonance have been observed in our previous unpolarized neutron scattering experiments (T. Xie {\it et al.} Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 120}, 267003 (2018)). Here we find that the high-energy even mode ($\sim 18$ meV) is isotropic in spin space, but the low-energy odd modes consist of a $c-$axis polarized mode around 9 meV along with another partially overlapped in-plane mode around 12 meV. We argue that such spin anisotropy is induced by the spin-orbit coupling in the spin-vortex-type fluctuations of this unique compound. The spin anisotropy is strongly affected by the superconductivity, where it is weak below 6 meV in the normal state and then transferred to higher energy and further enhanced in the odd mode of spin resonance below $T_c$.