Electron-Magnon Coupling Mediated Magnetotransport in Antiferromagnetic van der Waals Heterostructure

Abstract: Electron-magnon coupling reveals key insights into the interfacial properties between non-magnetic metals and magnetic insulators, influencing charge transport and spin dynamics. Here, we present temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and magneto-transport measurements of few-layer graphene (FLG)/antiferromagnetic FePS(3) heterostructures. The magnon mode in FePS(_3) softens below 40 K, and effective magnon stiffness decreases with cooling. Magnetotransport measurements show that FLG exhibits negative magnetoresistance (MR) in the heterostructure at low fields ((\pm 0.2 \, \text{T})), persisting up to 100 K; beyond this, MR transitions to positive. Notably, as layer thickness decreases, the coupling strength at the interface reduces, leading to a suppression of negative MR. Additionally, magnetodielectric measurements in the FLG/FePS(_3)/FLG heterostructure show an upturn at temperatures significantly below ($T\text{N}$), suggesting a role for the magnon mode in capacitance, as indicated by hybridization between magnon and phonon bands in pristine FePS(_3) \textit{via} magnetoelastic coupling.