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Magnetically propagating Hund’s exciton in van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS3

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
Abstract

Magnetic van der Waals (vdW) materials have opened new frontiers for realizing novel many-body phenomena. Recently NiPS 3 has received intense interest since it hosts an excitonic quasiparticle whose properties appear to be intimately linked to the magnetic state of the lattice. Despite extensive studies, the electronic character, mobility, and magnetic interactions of the exciton remain unresolved. Here we address these issues by measuring NiPS 3 with ultra-high energy resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). We find that Hund’s exchange interactions are primarily responsible for the energy of formation of the exciton. Measuring the dispersion of the Hund’s exciton reveals that it propagates in a way that is analogous to a double-magnon. We trace this unique behavior to fundamental similarities between the NiPS 3 exciton hopping and spin exchange processes, underlining the unique magnetic characteristics of this novel quasiparticle.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); US Army Research Office (ARO); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
2340941
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2331227
OSTI ID: 2370324
Report Number(s):
BNL--225384-2024-JAAM; BNL--225675-2024-JAAM; 3496; PII: 47852
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 15; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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