Topological magnonics in the two-dimensional van der Waals magnet CrI3

Abstract

We report on the magnon spectrum of Kitaev-Heisenberg magnets and extract the parameters to model a two-dimensional CrI3. Our minimal spin Hamiltonian includes a contribution stemming from a Heisenberg, isotropic exchange, and a contribution arising from a Kitaev interaction, anisotropic and frustrated exchange. Our calculations reveal a gap that opens at the K and K' points and the topological nature of the magnons which lead to the thermal Hall effect. Furthermore, we calculate the magnon spectrum of nanoribbons illustrating the corresponding edge states.