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Birefringence-like spin transport via linearly polarized antiferromagnetic magnons

ORAL

Abstract

Antiferromagnets (AFMs) recently demonstrate great potentials in efficient spin transport through magnons, providing a new platform for spintronics applications. Easy-plane AFMs, with two linearly polarized magnon eigenmodes that are orthogonal to each other, own unique advantages for low-energy control of ultrafast magnetic dynamics. However, it is commonly conceived that these magnon modes are less likely to transmit spins due to their vanishing angular momentum. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate that an easy-plane insulating AFM, α-Fe2O3 thin film, can conduct efficient spin transmission over micrometer distance. Remarkably, the spin decay length shows an unconventional temperature dependence that cannot be captured by solely considering thermal magnon scatterings. These observations are interpreted by the interference of two linearly polarized propagating magnons, a birefringence-like spin transport behavior. Finally, our devices can realize a bi-stable spin-current switch with a 100% on/off ratio under zero remnant magnetic field, providing additional opportunities for nonvolatile, low-field control of spin transport in AFM-based devices.

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Presenters

  • Jiahao Han

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

Authors

  • Jiahao Han

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Pengxiang Zhang

    EECS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Zhen Bi

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Yabin Fan

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Taqiyyah S Safi

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Junxiang Xiang

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Joseph Finley

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

  • Liang Fu

    Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Ran Cheng

    University of California, Riverside, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside, University of California - Riverside

  • Luqiao Liu

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, EECS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology