Researchers at NIST have discovered surprising behavior in 2D magnetic materials using advanced Raman spectroscopy techniques. The study found that behavior previously attributed to spin waves was actually due to lattice vibrations, and vice versa. This suggests that the NIST team’s unique experimental capabilities are crucial for investigating these materials.
The custom-engineered Raman system at NIST allows scientists to simultaneously track scattered light as a function of temperature and magnetic field. This enables them to identify whether observed effects are due to lattice vibrations or spin waves. The research also demonstrates the ability to track spins within a single layer as they “flip” to new directions.
The findings contribute to the growing understanding of 2D materials, which have potential applications in next-generation electronics and quantum computing. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from several universities and the National Institute of Materials Science in Japan.
Keywords: 2D magnets, Spin oscillations, Raman spectroscopy, Magnetic phase transition
