Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
07:42
Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
3.4K
Surface Magnon Propagation in a van der Waals Antiferromagnet
Jilei Chen1, Kei Yamamoto2,3, Chenxu Kang4
1International Quantum Academy, Shenzhen 518048, China.
Physical Review Letters
|February 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers observed unidirectional surface magnon propagation in van der Waals antiferromagnets. This discovery paves the way for novel nonreciprocal magnonic devices operating at microwave frequencies.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Van der Waals magnets offer new possibilities for spintronics and magnonics.
- Antiferromagnetic materials are being explored for advanced magnetic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate surface magnon propagation in the van der Waals antiferromagnet CrSBr.
- To explore the potential for nonreciprocal magnonic devices.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of surface magnon propagation.
- Theoretical modeling of magnetostatic waves in antiferromagnets.
Main Results:
- Nearly unidirectional propagation of antiferromagnetic magnon modes was observed.
- Magnon propagation direction was controllable by magnetic field.
- Gigahertz frequency operation due to weak interlayer coupling.
Conclusions:
- Surface magnons in CrSBr exhibit controllable unidirectional propagation.
- Van der Waals antiferromagnets are suitable for nonreciprocal magnonic applications.
- Potential for devices operating at microwave frequencies.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Ferromagnetism
3.2K
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
3.2K
01:30Paramagnetism
3.1K
Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...
3.1K
01:23Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
11.8K
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
11.8K
01:26Diamagnetism
3.1K
Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets....
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets....
3.1K
01:31Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
2.5K
In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
2.5K
01:24Potential Due to a Magnetized Object
841
Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...
The vector...
841