# Magnon decay theory of Gilbert damping in metallic antiferromagnets

## TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding intrinsic Gilbert damping in metallic antiferromagnets, highlighting the role of magnon decay and electron scattering processes in magnetization dynamics.

## Contribution

It provides analytic expressions for damping parameters and elucidates how bipartite structure and electron band features influence damping mechanisms.

## Key findings

- Magnon-induced intraband electron scattering mainly causes damping.
- Disorder primarily damps the Néel field.
- Interband electron scattering near band crossings can be used to engineer damping.

## Abstract

Gilbert damping is a key property governing magnetization dynamics in ordered magnets. We present a theoretical study of intrinsic Gilbert damping induced by magnon decay in antiferromagnetic metals through $s$-$d$ exchange interaction. Our theory delineates the qualitative features of damping in metallic antiferromagnets owing to their bipartite nature, in addition to providing analytic expressions for the damping parameters. Magnon-induced intraband electron scattering is found to predominantly cause magnetization damping, whereas the N\'eel field is found to be damped via disorder. Depending on the conduction electron band structure, we predict that magnon-induced interband electron scattering around band crossings may be exploited to engineer a strong N\'eel field damping.