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Optically Driven Magnetic Phase Transition of Monolayer RuCl3
Yingzhen Tian1, Weiwei Gao, Erik A Henriksen1
1Department of Physics and Institute of Materials Science and Engineering , Washington University , St. Louis , Missouri 63130 , United States.
Nano Letters
|October 23, 2019
Summary
Light can control magnetism in two-dimensional materials. Optical pumping can switch monolayer ruthenium trichloride (RuCl3) to a ferromagnetic phase, enhancing its Curie temperature for novel magnetic devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Magnetism
Background:
- Nanoscale structures enable optical control of material properties.
- Two-dimensional materials exhibit intrinsic long-range magnetic order, enabling miniaturized magnetic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict and investigate the optomagnetic coupling in monolayer ruthenium trichloride (RuCl3).
- To explore light-induced magnetic phase transitions in 2D materials.
Main Methods:
- First-principles calculations to model electronic and magnetic properties.
- Analysis of carrier and electron-hole pair effects on magnetic phases.
- Ising-model calculations to determine Curie temperature dependence.
Main Results:
- Optical excitation can switch monolayer RuCl3 from a spin-liquid to a ferromagnetic phase.
- Moderate electron-hole pair density stabilizes ferromagnetism by 10 meV/f.u.
- Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic phase increases with carrier/electron-hole pair density.
Conclusions:
- Light can efficiently tune magnetic orders in monolayer RuCl3.
- Optomagnetic effects offer new pathways for manipulating 2D magnetism.
- This work paves the way for noncontact optical control of novel magnetic devices.
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