Work

Symmetry-Forbidden Intraband Transitions Leading to Ultralow Gilbert Damping in van der Waals Ferromagnets

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Based upon first-principles calculations, we report ultralow Gilbert damping in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnets. The low damping occurs at weak scattering because mirror symmetry prohibits intraband transitions. The monotonic dependence on the electronic scattering rate suggests the absent lower limit, in contrast to conventional ferromagnetic materials. Breaking mirror symmetry through magnetization rotation, layer stacking, or structural phase transition significantly increases damping by enabling intraband transitions. Topological nodal lines, also protected by mirror symmetry, contribute substantially to interband-transition-mediated damping, which can be tuned by adjusting the Fermi level. Our findings elucidate the unique characteristics of Gilbert damping in 2D van der Waals ferromagnets, providing valuable insights for designing low-dimensional spintronic devices with high energy efficiency.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/j3jy-yl42

Authors: Weizhao Chen, Yu Zhang, Yi Liu, Zhe Yuan

Institutions: Fudan University, Beijing Normal University, Shanghai University, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China