1. Probing magnetism in 2D van der Waals crystalline insulators via electron tunneling
- Author
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Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Física Aplicada, Klein, Dahlia R., MacNeill, David, Lado, Jose L., Soriano Hernández, David, Navarro-Moratalla, Efrén, Watanabe, Kenji, Taniguchi, Takashi, Manni, Soham, Canfield, Paul, Fernández-Rossier, Joaquín, Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo, Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Física Aplicada, Klein, Dahlia R., MacNeill, David, Lado, Jose L., Soriano Hernández, David, Navarro-Moratalla, Efrén, Watanabe, Kenji, Taniguchi, Takashi, Manni, Soham, Canfield, Paul, Fernández-Rossier, Joaquín, and Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo
- Abstract
Magnetic insulators are a key resource for next-generation spintronic and topological devices. The family of layered metal halides promises varied magnetic states including ultrathin insulating multiferroics, spin liquids, and ferromagnets, but device-oriented characterization methods are needed to unlock their potential. Here, we report tunneling through the layered magnetic insulator CrI3 as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. We electrically detect the magnetic ground state and inter-layer coupling and observe a field-induced metamagnetic transition. The metamagnetic transition results in magnetoresistances of 95%, 300%, and 550% for bilayer, trilayer, and tetralayer CrI3 barriers, respectively. We further measure inelastic tunneling spectra for our junctions, unveiling a rich spectrum consistent with collective magnetic excitations (magnons) in CrI3.
- Published
- 2018