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Unveiling electronic correlation and ferromagnetic superexchange mechanism in van der Waals crystal CrSiTe<sub>3</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

The recent discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetic order in atomically thin van der Waals crystal CrXTe3 (X=Si,Ge) stimulates intensive studies on the nature of low-dimensional magnetism. By combining advanced many-body calculations with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy we investigate CrSiTe3 single crystals and unveil the pivotal role played by the strong electronic correlations at both high- and low-temperature regime. Above the Curie temperature (Tc), Coulomb repulsion (U) drives the system into a charge transfer insulating phase. In contrast, below Tc the crystal field arranges the Cr-3d orbitals such that the ferromagnetic super-exchange profits, giving rise to the bulk ferromagnetic ground state with which the electronic correlations compete. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment establishes CrSiTe3 as a prototype low dimensional crystal with the cooperation and interplay of electronic correlation and ferromagnetism. Ref. [1] J. X. Zhang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 047203 (2019)

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Presenters

  • Zhongkai Liu

    ShanghaiTech University

Authors

  • Jiaxin Zhang

    ShanghaiTech University

  • Xiaochan Cai

    ShanghaiTech University

  • Lexian Yang

    Tsinghua University, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University

  • Hongtao Yuan

    Nanjing University

  • Yulin Chen

    Oxford University, University of Oxford, Physics, University of Oxford, Tsinghua University, Department of Physics, Oxford university, Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Department of Physics, University of Oxford

  • Shilei Zhang

    School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiTech University

  • Zhongkai Liu

    ShanghaiTech University

  • Gang Li

    ShanghaiTech University, China, ShanghaiTech University