Monte Carlo calculations on the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model

Spontaneous valley splitting and valley pseudospin field effect transistors of monolayer VAgP2Se6

Valleytronics has attracted much attention due to its potential applications in the information processing industry. Creation of permanent valley polarization (PVP), i.e. unbalanced occupation at different valleys, is a vital requirement for practical devices in valleytronics. However, the development of an appropriate material with PVP remains a main challenge. Here we used first-principles calculations to predict that the spin-orbit coupling and magnetic ordering allow spontaneous valley Zeeman-type splitting in the pristine monolayer of VAgP₂Se₆. After suitable doping of VAgP₂Se₆, the Zeeman-type valley splitting results in a PVP, similar to the effect of spin polarization in spintronics. The VAgP₂Se₆ monolayer has nonequivalent valleys which can emit or absorb circularly polarized photons with opposite chirality. It thus shows great potential to be used as a photonic chirality filter and a circularly polarized light source. We then designed a valley pseudospin field effect transistor (VPFET) based on the monolayer VAgP₂Se₆, akin to the spin field effect transistors. In contrast to the current common transistors, VPFETs carry information of not only the electrons but also the valley pseudospins, far beyond common transistors.

High temperature ferromagnetism in π-conjugated two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks

We use first-principles calculations to show that the square symmetry of two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) made from octaamino-substituted phthalocyanines and square planar Ni2+ ions, which enable strong conjugation of π electrons, has a critical impact on the magnetic properties of the lattice. In particular, we predict the unexpected emergence of a rare high-temperature ferromagnetic half-metallic ground state in one case. Among charge neutral MOFs made from (2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24)-octaiminophthalocyanine (OIPc) metallated with divalent first-row transition metal ions (M-OIPc; M = Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) and connected through square planar Ni-bisphenylenediimine moieties, NiMn-OIPc exhibits a half-metallic and ferromagnetic ground state with a large exchange energy resulting from the unique strong hybridization between the d/π orbitals of Mn, the Pc ring, and the Ni-bisphenylenediimine nodes. Notably, we show that for NiMn-OIPc there is a considerable difference between the ferromagnetic ordering temperature (Tc) predicted by a 2D Ising model, which exceeds 600 K, and a Tc of 170 K predicted by our more realistic Monte Carlo simulation that includes magnetic anisotropy. Critically, our simulations adopt two spin models that incorporate magnetic anisotropy in the form of exchange anisotropy and single-ion anisotropy. We further show that in the bulk, 2D layers of NiMn-OIPc adopt a slipped-parallel stacking configuration, and exhibit interlayer magnetic coupling that is sensitive to the relative in-plane displacement between adjacent layers. These results highlight the critical role of magnetic anisotropy in modeling the properties of 2D magnetic systems. More generally, it demonstrates that strong hybridization between open-shell ions and delocalized aromatic π systems with appropriate symmetry, combined with large magnetic anisotropy, will be an effective design strategy to realize ferromagnetic 2D MOFs with high Tc.

Competition of magneto-dipole, anisotropy and exchange interactions in composite multiferroics

We study the competition of magneto-dipole, anisotropy and exchange interactions in composite three-dimensional multiferroics. Using Monte Carlo simulations we show that magneto-dipole interaction does not suppress the ferromagnetic state caused by the interaction of the ferroelectric matrix and magnetic subsystem. However, the presence of the magneto-dipole interaction influences the order-disorder transition: depending on the strength of magneto-dipole interaction the transition from the ferromagnetic to the superparamagnetic state is accompanied either by the creation of vortices or domains of opposite magnetization. An unusual temperature hysteresis loop occurs in composite multiferroics due to non-monotonic behavior of exchange interaction versus temperature. The origin of this hysteresis is related to the presence of stable magnetic domains which are robust against thermal fluctuations.

Double perovskite heterostructures: magnetism, Chern bands, and Chern insulators

Experiments demonstrating the controlled growth of oxide heterostructures have raised the prospect of realizing topologically nontrivial states of correlated electrons in low dimensions. Here, we study heterostructures consisting of {111} bilayers of double perovskites separated by inert band insulators. In bulk, these double perovskites have well-defined local moments interacting with itinerant electrons leading to high temperature ferromagnetism. Incorporating spin-orbit coupling in the two-dimensional honeycomb geometry of a {111} bilayer, we find a rich phase diagram with tunable ferromagnetic order, topological Chern bands, and a C=±2 Chern insulator regime. Our results are of broad relevance to oxide materials such as Sr_{2}FeMoO_{6}, Ba_{2}FeReO_{6}, and Sr_{2}CrWO_{6}.

Monte Carlo simulations of intragrain spin effects in a quasi-2D Heisenberg model with uniaxial anisotropy

A combination of Metropolis and modified Wolff cluster algorithms is used to examine the impact of uniaxial single-ion anisotropy on the phase transition to ferromagnetic order of Heisenberg macrospins on a 2D square lattice. This forms the basis of a model for granular perpendicular recording media where macrospins represent the magnetic moment of grains. The focus of this work is on the interplay between anisotropy D, intragrain exchange J' and intergrain exchange J on the ordering temperature T(C) and extends our previous reported analysis of the granular Ising model. The role of intragrain degrees of freedom in heat assisted magnetic recording is discussed.