Voltage control of magnon spin currents in antiferromagnetic Cr2O3

Abstract: Voltage-controlled spintronic devices utilizing the spin degree of freedom are desirable for future applications, and may allow energy-efficient information processing. Pure spin current can be created by thermal excitations in magnetic systems via the spin Seebeck effect (SSE). However, controlling such spin currents, only by electrical means, has been a fundamental challenge. Here, we investigate voltage control of the SSE in the antiferromagnetic insulator Cr2O3. We demonstrate that the SSE response generated in this material can be effectively controlled by applying a bias voltage, owing to the sensitivity of the SSE to the orientation of the magnetic sublattices as well as the existence of magnetoelectric couplings in Cr2O3. Our experimental results are explained using a model based on the magnetoelectric effect in Cr2O3.