Excitons in van der Waals magnetic materials

TL;DR

This paper reviews how excitons in two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic materials are coupled with magnetic order, leading to strong magneto-optical effects and potential applications in advanced optoelectronic and quantum devices.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent experimental and theoretical advances in understanding exciton-magnetism coupling in 2D magnetic semiconductors.

Findings

Strong magneto-optical responses observed

Direct coupling between excitons and magnons demonstrated

Potential for spin-controlled light-matter interactions

Abstract

Two-dimensional magnetic semiconductors provide a unique materials platform in which long-range magnetic order coexists with strongly bound excitons. Because excitonic states and magnetic moments originate from the same electronic orbitals and are coupled through intrinsic exchange interactions, optical excitations in these systems exhibit pronounced sensitivity to magnetic order. Recent experiments have revealed unusually strong magneto-optical responses, as well as direct coupling between excitons and magnons, establishing new routes for controlling light-matter interactions with spin degrees of freedom. This Review surveys key developments in the field, focusing on representative material systems, experimental signatures of exciton-magnetism coupling, and the theoretical frameworks used to describe these phenomena. We conclude with perspectives on how this rapidly evolving field could enable next-generation optoelectronic and quantum technologies leveraging the coupled dynamics of light, charge, and spin.