Spin-wave Theory Research Articles

Cobalt-based pyroxenes: A new playground for Kitaev physics

Recent advances in the study of cobaltites have unveiled their potential as a promising platform for realizing Kitaev physics in honeycomb systems and the Ising model in weakly coupled chain materials. In this manuscript, we explore the magnetic properties of pyroxene SrCoGe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] using a combination of neutron scattering, ab initio methods, and linear spin-wave theory. Through careful examination of inelastic neutron scattering powder spectra, we propose a modified Kitaev model to accurately describe the twisted chains of edge-sharing octahedra surrounding Co[Formula: see text] ions. The extended Kitaev-Heisenberg model, including a significant anisotropic bond-dependent exchange term with [Formula: see text], is identified as the key descriptor of the magnetic interactions in SrCoGe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, our heat capacity measurements reveal an effect of an external magnetic field (approximately 13 T) which shifts the system from a fragile antiferromagnetic ordering with [Formula: see text] K to a field-induced state. We argue that pyroxenes, particularly those modified by substituting Ge with Si and its less extended [Formula: see text] orbitals, emerge as a platform for the Kitaev model. This opens up possibilities for advancing our understanding of Kitaev physics.

Features of itinerant magnetism in Fe0.6Al0.4 film with B2-like short-range order

The complex relationship between spontaneous magnetization (M s) and structural parameters in Fe–Al systems should be attributed to the B2-like short-range order (SRO) and itinerancy-induced sensitivity of magnetism in B2 FeAl. We focused on the role of SRO in the magnetism of Fe0.6Al0.4 film with the B2-like SRO. The high-field susceptibility (χHF) was observed through magnetometry, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, and magneto-optical Kerr effect measurement, through which different χHF values were obtained. The M s–T curves deviated from the Brillouin function, and it can be interpreted following the spin-wave theory with a low spin-wave stiffness of 0.75 meV nm2. Based on the observed χHF and M s trends, the magnetic moment in the B2-like SRO was found to be induced by the exchange field from the surrounding ferromagnetic region. The coexistence of weak and strong ferromagnetic regions can be a possible reason for the complex magnetism in the Fe–Al system.

Spin-wave resonance frequency and quantum fluctuation of the (anti)ferri-(anti)ferrimagnetic double-layer superlattice

The Hamiltonian of a four-sublattice simple cubic superlattice was solved by applying the linear spin-wave theory and the retarded Green's function technique. This study focused on the spin-wave resonance frequency, energy gap, sublattice magnetization, and quantum fluctuations of the system. The results show that the spin quantum number, interlayer (intralayer) exchange couplings, and intralayer anisotropy have a significant influence. In the ground state, the magnetizations of the sublattices are smaller than their spin quantum numbers, indicating the existence of quantum zero-point vibrations in the (anti)ferrimagnetic-(anti)ferrimagnetic bilayer system.

Atomistic spin dynamics simulations of magnonic spin Seebeck and spin Nernst effects in altermagnets

Magnon band structures in altermagnets are characterized by an energy splitting of modes with opposite chirality, even in the absence of applied external fields and relativistic effects, because of an anisotropy in the Heisenberg exchange interactions. We perform quantitative atomistic spin dynamics simulations based on electronic structure calculations on rutile RuO2, a prototypical “d-wave” altermagnet, to study magnon currents generated by thermal gradients. We report substantial spin Seebeck and spin Nernst effects, i.e., longitudinal or transverse spin currents, depending on the propagation direction of the magnons with respect to the crystal, together with a finite spin accumulation associated with nonlinearities in the temperature profile. Our findings are consistent with the altermagnetic spin-group symmetry, as well as predictions from linear spin-wave theory and semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Rich magnon topology in triangular lattice magnets

The two-dimensional magnet has been an emerging and rapidly growing field. The nontrivial topological phenomenon in these materials is an attracting subject. Yet, the realization of such magnets exhibiting topological magnons remains a challenge. Here, employing the linear spin-wave theory and the first-principles calculations, we propose that variety of topological phases exist in the triangular ferromagnet. These include magnon Chern insulators and high-order topological insulators. Interestingly, these topological states can coexist within a certain parameter space, leading to a hybrid topological state. We propose that these topological phases can be realized via atomic substitutions inMnSe2orMnTe2single-layers. The following detailed analysis suggests that non-uniform Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions are crucial in achieving topological magnons. Our work unveil a unique approach to obtaining non-trivial topological magnons in two-dimensional materials.

Breakdown of linear spin-wave theory in a non-Hermitian quantum spin chain

Breakdown of linear spin-wave theory in a non-Hermitian quantum spin chain

Quantum Spin Dynamics Due to Strong Kitaev Interactions in the Triangular-Lattice Antiferromagnet CsCeSe_{2}.

The extraordinary properties of the Kitaev model have motivated an intense search for new physics in materials that combine geometrical and bond frustration. In this Letter, we employ inelastic neutron scattering, spin wave theory, and exact diagonalization to study the spin dynamics in the perfect triangular-lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) CsCeSe_{2}. This material orders into a stripe phase, which is demonstrated to arise as a consequence of the off-diagonal bond-dependent terms in the spin Hamiltonian. By studying the spin dynamics at intermediate fields, we identify an interaction between the single-magnon state and the two-magnon continuum that causes decay of coherent magnon excitations, level repulsion, and transfer of spectral weight to the continuum that are controlled by the strength of the magnetic field. Our results provide a microscopic mechanism for the stabilization of the stripe phase in TLAF and show how complex many-body physics can be present in the spin dynamics in a magnet with strong Kitaev coupling even in an ordered ground state.

Spin waves in antiferromagnetically coupled bilayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

In this paper we analyse quantized spin waves (also referred to as magnons) in bilayers of two-dimensional van der Waals materials, like Vanadium-based dichalcogenides, VX2 (X = S, Se, Te) and other materials of similar symmetry. We assume that the materials exhibit Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction and in-plane easy-axis magnetic anisotropy due to symmetry breaking induced externally (e.g. by strain, gate voltage, proximity effects to an appropriate substrate/oberlayer, etc.). The considerations are limited to a collinear spin ground state, stabilized by a sufficiently strong in-plane magnetic anisotropy. The theoretical analysis is performed within the general spin wave theory based on the Holstein–Primakoff–Bogoliubov transformation. Accordingly, the description takes into account quantum antiferromagnetic fluctuations. However, it is limited to linear spinwave modes. The Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction is shown to modify the spin wave spectrum of the bilayers, making its low energy part qualitatively similar to the electronic spectrum of the Rashba spin–orbit model.

Topological magnons in a non-coplanar magnetic order on the triangular lattice

The bond-dependent Kitaev interaction K is familiar in the effective spin model of transition metal compounds with octahedral ligands. In this work, we find a peculiar non-coplanar magnetic order can be formed with the help of K and next-nearest neighbor Heisenberg coupling J 2 on the triangular lattice. It can be seen as a miniature version of skyrmion crystal, since it has nine spins and an integer topological number in a magnetic unit cell. The magnon excitations in such an order are studied by the linear spin-wave theory. Of note is that the change in the relative size of J 2 and K produces topological magnon phase transitions although the topological number remains unchanged. We also calculated the experimentally observable thermal Hall conductivity, and found that the signs of thermal Hall conductivity will change with topological phase transitions or temperature changes in certain regions.

Magnetic polarons beyond linear spin-wave theory: Mesons dressed by magnons

Magnetic polarons beyond linear spin-wave theory: Mesons dressed by magnons

Theory of Spin Waves in an Easy-Plane Ferromagnetic Nanotube with a Spin-Polarized Current

Theory of Spin Waves in an Easy-Plane Ferromagnetic Nanotube with a Spin-Polarized Current

Understanding spin currents from magnon dispersion and polarization: Spin-Seebeck effect and neutron scattering study on Tb3Fe5O12

Magnon spin currents in the ferrimagnetic garnet Tb3Fe5O12 with 4f electrons were examined through the spin-Seebeck effect and neutron scattering measurements. The compound shows a magnetic compensation, where the spin-Seebeck signal reverses above and below Tcomp=249.5(4) K. Unpolarized neutron scattering unveils two major magnon branches with finite energy gaps, which are well explained in the framework of spin-wave theory. Their temperature dependencies and the direction of the precession motion of magnetic moments, i.e., magnon polarization, defined using polarized neutrons, explain the reversal at Tcomp and decay of the spin-Seebeck signals at low temperatures. We illustrate an example that momentum- and energy-resolved microscopic information is a prerequisite to understand the magnon spin current.

Topological band engineering and tunable thermal Hall effect in trimerized Lieb lattice ferromagnets

We theoretically study the topological properties of magnons and the relevant magnon thermal Hall effect in trimerized Lieb lattice ferromagnets in the presence of next-nearest-neighbor Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions. By calculating the magnon band structures and their Chern numbers with the linear spin-wave theory, we show that the system can undergo a phase transition between a magnonic topological insulator phase and a magnonic trivial insulator phase. The main results are presented in the form of topological phase diagrams, where the Chern numbers or magnon thermal Hall conductivity are shown as a function of the two lattice trimerization parameters. We find a sharp change of the thermal Hall conductivity across the critical point of phase transformations associated with topological nontrivial edge states. The behaviors reflect that the existence of trimerizations breaks the C4 rotational symmetry of the Lieb lattice. Finally, we show that our theoretical predictions could be experimentally realized in high-temperature cuprate superconductors or organic magnetic materials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Systematic determination of a material’s magnetic ground state from first principles

We present a self-consistent method based on first-principles calculations to determine the magnetic ground state of materials, regardless of their dimensionality. Our methodology is founded on satisfying the stability conditions derived from the linear spin wave theory (LSWT) by optimizing the magnetic structure iteratively. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by successfully predicting the experimental magnetic structures of NiO, FePS3, FeP, MnF2, FeCl2, and CuO. In each case, we compared our results with available experimental data and existing theoretical calculations reported in the literature. Finally, we discuss the validity of the method and the possible extensions.

Magnon thermal Hall effect via emergent SU(3) flux on the antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice

Complexity of quantum phases of matter is often understood theoretically by using gauge structures, as is recognized by the Z2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${{\\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$\\end{document} and U(1) gauge theory description of spin liquids in frustrated magnets. Anomalous Hall effect of conducting electrons can intrinsically arise from a U(1) gauge expressing the spatial modulation of ferromagnetic moments or from an SU(2) gauge representing the spin-orbit coupling effect. Similarly, in insulating ferro and antiferromagnets, the magnon contribution to anomalous transports is explained in terms of U(1) and SU(2) fluxes present in the ordered magnetic structure. Here, we report thermal Hall measurements of MnSc2S4 in an applied field up to 14 T, for which we consider an emergent higher rank SU(3) flux, controlling the magnon transport. The thermal Hall coefficient takes a substantial value when the material enters a three-sublattice antiferromagnetic skyrmion phase, which is in agreement with the linear spin-wave theory. In our description, magnons are dressed with SU(3) gauge field, which is a mixture of three species of U(1) gauge fields originating from the slowly varying magnetic moments on these sublattices.

Effect of interlayer exchange coupling interaction on topological phase of a bilayer honeycomb Heisenberg ferromagnet

Layered magnetic topological materials are material systems that exhibit both magnetic ordering and topological properties in their smallest two-dimensional units. Studying these systems may lead to the observation of new physical properties and phenomena, which has attracted considerable attention from researchers. The effect of interlayer exchange coupling interactions on bilayer honeycomb Heisenberg ferromagnets with interlayer coupled topological phase is investigated by using linear spin wave theory. The influence of introducing two additional types of interactions, i.e. interlayer exchange coupling interaction and interlayer easy-axis anisotropy interaction, on the topological phase transition are also explored in this work. By calculating the magnon dispersion relations at various interlayer exchange coupling interaction intensities, it is found that the band gaps of high energy band and low energy band both close and reopen at the Dirac points when the system reaches the critical value of interlayer exchange coupling interaction. In magnon systems, such physical phenomena typically relate to topological phase transitions. When calculating the Berry curvature and Chern numbers for the bands in the aforementioned process, it is found that the sign of the Berry curvature reverses and the Chern numbers change when the critical value of interlayer exchange coupling interaction strength is reached, confirming that a topological phase transition occurs indeed. Introducing two other types of interlayer exchange coupling interactions in this process can lead various novel topological phases to occur in the system. The enhancement of interlayer easy-axis anisotropy interactions is likely to impede the topological phase transitions occurring in the system. We find that a major distinction between bilayer honeycomb ferromagnets and their single-layer counterparts lies in the fact that during a topological phase transition, the sign of the magnon thermal Hall coefficient does not change; on the contrary, abrupt shift in the thermal Hall coefficient curve occurs which can be seen as an indicator of topological phase transition of bilayer honeycomb ferromagnets, and is also reflected in the change in magnon Nernst coefficient. The research results of this work can provide theoretical support for developing novel spintronic devices with enhanced information transmission capabilities by using bilayer honeycomb ferromagnetic materials, and can also provide theoretical reference for studing other bilayer ferromagnetic systems.

Pseudo-Landau levels of hexagonal lattice quantum antiferromagnets under bending strain

The pseudo-Landau energy levels of a hexagonal lattice quantum antiferromagnet under bending strain are studied by linear spin-wave theory (LSWT) and quantum Monte Carlo method (QMC). Using the linear spin wave theory, the magnetic pseudo-Landau energy level can be found to appear at the high-energy end of the magnon spectrum, and the energy level spacing is proportional to the square root of the energy level index. The linear spin wave theory and the quantum Monte Carlo method both indicate that at the same size, the local magnetization gradually weakens with the gradual increase of the strain strength. Additionally, the antiferromagnetic order continuously weakens in the <i>y</i>-direction under the same strain strength. This occurs because the Heisenberg chain on the upper boundary becomes decoupled into an isolated vertical chain, leading to the destruction of the magnetic order near the upper boundary. The quantum Monte Carlo method provides a more accurate antiferromagnetic sequence evolution, that is, the vertical correlation at the upper boundary is unchanged and the horizontal correlation increases under a specific strain intensity. This affects the magnetization intensity, so that the local magnetization shows an upward trend at the upper boundary. The results contribute to the understanding of the effect of bending strain on spin excitations, and this effect may be observed in two-dimensional quantum magnetic material experiments.

Nonlinear Spin-wave Theory for Dynamical Spin Correlations in the Kitaev Model at Finite Temperatures

Nonlinear Spin-wave Theory for Dynamical Spin Correlations in the Kitaev Model at Finite Temperatures

Thermal Hall conductivity on kagome-lattice antiferromagnets

Thermal Hall conductivity κxy and Hall spin conductivity σxy in the nearest-neighbors antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on kagome lattice with out-of-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), which has been an active area of study in condensed matter physics, are studied using the linear spin-wave theory. We analize the effect of this coupling on the behavior of κxy as well as σxy as well. For all cases analyzed, the behavior of κxy and σxy as a function of temperature T is analyzed where the behavior obtained for T finite, being due to the magnons thermally excited. We get a strong effect of temperature and DMI interaction on the behavior of both conductivities.

Spin waves in monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

Dzyaloshinski–Moriya interaction, known also as the antisymmetric exchange coupling, leads to a variety of interesting spin phenomena, like spin canting, skyrmion formation, nonreciprocal spin wave propagation, and others. In this paper we analyze spin waves in monolayers of two-dimensional van–der–Waals materials, such as Vanadium–based dichalcogenides, VX2 (X=S, Se, Te) and other materials of similar symmetry. The considerations are limited to a collinear spin ground state, stabilized by a sufficiently strong magnetic anisotropy. The theoretical analysis is performed within the general spin wave theory based on the Holstein–Primakoff–Bogoliubov transformation.