Abstract:

The antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin waves are promising for being utilized in highspeed and energy-efficient information processing. However, the excitation and detection of terahertz spin waves in AFM systems is challenging. Here, we demonstrate low-frequency Raman spectroscopy as a powerful tool for spin-wave detection in AFM systems. We present a systematic study of AFM magnons in Cr₂O₃, a prototypical uniaxial antiferromagnet, via Raman measurements down to 2.3 cm⁻¹ (69 GHz). We resolved the magnon Zeeman splitting and the spin-flop transition. We further determined the sign of angular momentum of the magnon branches via polarization-resolved Raman processes. We also obtained the anisotropy energy, the g-factor, and the spin-flop field of Cr₂O₃ as a function of temperatures and magnetic fields. A spin-wave renormalization theory accounts for all experimental observations. 

Key words: antiferromagnetism, spin wave, low-frequency Raman spectroscopy, spin-flop