Elton J. G. Santos

Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems – School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, UK

 Exploring the Limits of Ultrafast Magnetism in Quantum Materials 

When: 12:00-13:00 CET, June 5th (Wednesday), 2024

Where: Seminar Room (182), ICMM-CSIC, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid

 Long searched but only now discovered two-dimensional (2D) magnets are one of the selected group of materials that retain or impart strongly spin correlated properties at the limit of atomic layer thickness. In this presentation, I will discuss how different layered compounds (e.g., CrX3 (X=F, Cl, Br, I), MnPS3, Fe5-xGeTe2, Cr2Ge2Te6) can provide new playgrounds for applications and fundamental exploration of spin correlations involving quantum-effects, topological spin-excitations and ultrafast laser pulses. In particular, I will show how van der Waals magnets do not require any magnetic anisotropy to stabilize 2D magnetism and demonstrate the null valid of the Mermin-Wagner theorem in practical applications. Moreover, some recent results of ultrafast laser excitations on different vdW heterostructures will be shown towards all-optical control of their magnetic properties with efficient heat management.