Electrically Switchable van der Waals Magnon Valves

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates electrically tunable magnon valves in van der Waals antiferromagnetic insulator MnPS3, enabling control of magnon signals and the realization of magnon-based logic devices, advancing spintronics technology.

Contribution

It introduces the first electrically switchable van der Waals magnon valve using MnPS3, showing complete control over magnon transmission and enabling magnon-based logic applications.

Findings

Electric current can reversibly tune magnon signals from positive to negative.

Zero crossing indicates complete magnon transmission blocking.

Demonstrated a magnon-based inverter device.

Abstract

Van der Waals magnets have emerged as a fertile ground for the exploration of highly tunable spin physics and spin-related technology. Two-dimensional (2D) magnons in van der Waals magnets are collective excitation of spins under strong confinement. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding 2D magnons, a crucial magnon device called the van der Waals magnon valve, in which the magnon signal can be completely and repeatedly turned on and off electrically, has yet to be realized. Here we demonstrate such magnon valves based on van der Waals antiferromagnetic insulator MnPS3. By applying DC electric current through the gate electrode, we show that the second harmonic thermal magnon (SHM) signal can be tuned from positive to negative. The guaranteed zero crossing during this tuning demonstrates a complete blocking of SHM transmission, arising from the nonlinear gate dependence of the non-equilibrium magnon density in the 2D spin channel. Using the switchable magnon valves we demonstrate a magnon-based inverter. These results illustrate the potential of van der Waals anti-ferromagnets for studying highly tunable spin-wave physics and for application in magnon-base circuitry in future information technology.