Topological magnon insulators in two-dimensional van der Waals ferromagnets CrSiTe3 and CrGeTe3: Toward intrinsic gap-tunability

The bosonic analogs of topological insulators have been proposed in numerous theoretical works, but their experimental realization is still very rare, especially for spin systems. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb van der Waals ferromagnets have emerged as a new platform for topological spin excitations. Here, via a comprehensive inelastic neutron scattering study and theoretical analysis of the spin-wave excitations, we report the realization of topological magnon insulators in CrXTe₃ (X = Si, Ge) compounds. The nontrivial nature and intrinsic tunability of the gap opening at the magnon band-crossing Dirac points are confirmed, while the emergence of the corresponding in-gap topological edge states is demonstrated theoretically. The realization of topological magnon insulators with intrinsic gap-unability in this class of remarkable 2D materials will undoubtedly lead to new and fascinating technological applications in the domain of magnonics and topological spintronics.

Complex magnetism of the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic Ge2F: from a Néel spin-texture to a potential antiferromagnetic skyrmion

Based on density functional theory combined with low-energy models, we explore the magnetic properties of a hybrid atomic-thick two-dimensional (2D) material made of germanene doped with fluorine atoms in a half-fluorinated configuration (Ge₂F). The Fluorine atoms are highly electronegative, which induces magnetism and breaks inversion symmetry, triggering thereby a finite and strong Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). The magnetic exchange interactions are of antiferromagnetic nature among the first, second and third neighbors, which leads to magnetic frustration. The Néel state is found to be the most stable state, with magnetic moments lying in the surface plane. This results from the out-of-plane component of the DMI vector, which seems to induce an effective in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Upon application of a magnetic field, spin-spirals and antiferromagnetic skyrmions can be stabilized. We conjecture that this can be realized via magnetic exchange fields induced by a magnetic substrate. To complete our characterization, we computed the spin-wave excitations and the resulting spectra, which could be probed via electron energy loss spectroscopy, magneto-Raman spectroscopy or scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Based on density functional theory combined with low-energy models, we explore the magnetic properties of a hybrid atomic-thick two-dimensional (2D) material made of germanene doped with fluorine atoms in a half-fluorinated configuration (Ge₂F).