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

Authors

Hao Chu, California Institute of Technology
Chang Jae Roh, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Joshua O. Island, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Chen Li, California Institute of Technology
Sungmin Lee, Institute for Basic Science
Jingjing Chen, Nankai University
Je-Geun Park, Institute for Basic Science
Andrea F. Young, University of California, Santa Barbara
Jong Seok Lee, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
David Hsieh, California Institute of Technology

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

Repository Citation

Chu, H., Jae Roh, C., Island, J. O., Li, C., Lee, S., Chen, J., Park, J., Young, A. F., Seok Lee, J., Hsieh, D. (2020). Linear Magnetoelectric Phase in Ultrathin MnPS3 Probed by Optical Second Harmonic Generation. Physical Review Letters, 124(2), 1-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.027601