Nano-Magnetic oscillators
The isolation of graphene sheets ushered the age of 2D materials as the poster children of condensed matter physics. Until a few years ago, 2D magnetism was thought to be impossible to observe experimentally, as any amount of thermal fluctuations is enough to disturb the magnetic order. Recently, the existence of 2D magnets have been proved and these materials have garnered a great amount of interest, both due to their novel physics and to the possibility of downscaling magnetic devices, enabling future beyond CMOS technology. However, the physics underlying 2D magnetism are not fully understood. In this project, we aim to study how the magnetism of 2D monolayers of CrI3 and CrBr3 is modified by applying a mechanical strain, which tunes their intralayer magnetic exchange and ultimately their magnetic order. CrI3 and CrBr3 bilayers will also be used to study the dependence of the magnetic coupling between different layers in van der Waals heterostructures, describing the origin of their interlayer magnetic orderings. Using the same materials, we will fabricate nanomechanical resonators which will be used to study the backaction of magnetic field on oscillating 2D magnets. Ultimately, this project will shed light on how magnetism and mechanics interplay in 2D materials.