Tunable thermal conductivity through dual spin-phonon coupling in van der Waals ferromagnetic insulator Cr2Ge2Te6

TL;DR

This study demonstrates magnetic field-controlled phonon transport in Cr2Ge2Te6, revealing dual spin-phonon coupling effects that enable dynamic thermal conductivity tuning in a ferromagnetic insulator.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of dual spin-phonon coupling effects controlling phonon transport in a 2D ferromagnetic insulator, offering a new framework for phonon engineering.

Findings

Magnetic field induces anomalous phonon transport regimes.

Dual spin-phonon coupling mechanisms identified and characterized.

Thermal conductivity can be tuned by magnetic field magnitude and orientation.

Abstract

The active manipulation of phonon transport remains a central challenge in phononics and spin caloritronics due to the charge-neutral nature of heat carriers. Spin-phonon coupling (SPC) offers a promising route for the dynamic control of heat carriers, yet its progress has been limited due to the lack of a unified framework and suitable material platforms. Here, we report on the magnetic field-tunable phonon transport behavior in the ferromagnetic insulator Cr2Ge2Te6. We observed two distinct anomalous regimes at both the high and low fields that were governed by isotropic magnon-phonon hybridization and an anisotropic magnon softening process, respectively. By integrating detailed transport behavior with Brillouin light scattering and ferromagnetic resonance, we uncovered the microscopic origins of these anomalous regimes and demonstrated that both the field magnitude and orientation could act as versatile tuning knobs to manipulate the thermal conductivity. Our findings provide experimental evidence of the SPC effect on phonon transport, demonstrating the dual impact of SPC within a unified system. This work will not only broaden the fundamental understanding of quasiparticle interactions but also establish a viable framework for dynamic phonon engineering. Furthermore, the characteristics of this system highlight the potential for achieving field-tunable phonon transport in similar platforms such as two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials.