Linear Magnetoelectric Phase in Ultrathin MnPS3 Probed by Optical Second Harmonic Generation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-16-2020

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

124

Issue

2

First page number:

1

Last page number:

6

Abstract

The transition metal thiophosphates MPS₃ (M=Mn, Fe, Ni) are a class of van der Waals stacked insulating antiferromagnets that can be exfoliated down to the ultrathin limit. MnPS₃ is particularly interesting because its Neel ordered state breaks both spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, allowing for a linear magnetoelectric phase that is rare among van der Waals materials. However, it is unknown whether this unique magnetic structure of bulk MnPS₃ remains stable in the ultrathin limit. Using optical second harmonic generation rotational anisotropy, we show that long-range linear magnetoelectric type Neel order in MnPS₃ persists down to at least 5.3 nm thickness. However an unusual mirror symmetry breaking develops in ultrathin samples on SiO₂ substrates that is absent in bulk materials, which is likely related to substrate induced strain.

Keywords

Linear magnetoelectric phase; Metal thiophosphates; Antiferromagnets; Ultrathin limit; Optical second harmonic generation rotational anisotropy

Disciplines

Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics

Language

English

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