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Spin Dynamics Slowdown near the Antiferromagnetic Critical Point in Atomically Thin FePS3

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

X.-X. Zhang
S. Jiang
J. Lee
C. Lee
K.F. Mak
J. Shan

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials have attracted much recent interest with unique properties emerging at the few-layer limit. Beyond the reported impacts on the static magnetic properties, the effects of reducing the dimensionality on the magnetization dynamics are also of fundamental interest and importance for 2D device development. In this report, we investigate the spin dynamics in atomically thin antiferromagnetic FePS3 of varying layer numbers using ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy. Following the absorption of an optical pump pulse, the time evolution of the antiferromagnetic order parameter is probed by magnetic linear birefringence. We observe a strong divergence in the demagnetization time near the Néel temperature. The divergence can be characterized by a power-law dependence on the reduced temperature, with an exponent decreasing with sample thickness. We compare our results to expectations from critical slowing down and a two-temperature model involving spins and phonons and discuss the possible relevance of spin-substrate phonon interactions. © 2021 American Chemical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Nano Letters

Volume

21

Issue

12

Number of Pages

5045-5052,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85108660347&doi=10.1021%2facs.nanolett.1c00870&partnerID=40&md5=cf70b4a158df027c797fa34c010c5f30

DOI

10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00870

Group (Lab)

Jie Shan Group
Kin Fai Mak Group

Funding Source

DMR-1807810
FA9550-19-1-0390
FA9550-20-1-0219
NRF- 2020R1A2C2014687

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