Spin Wave Dispersion of the van der Waals Antiferromagnet NiPS$_3$

Abstract: We calculate the magnon dispersion spectra of the two-dimensional zigzag van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS$_3$ for monolayer, bilayer, and bulk systems as a function of an external magnetic field. We calculate the exchange and anisotropy constants in our spin model by first principles. We can accurately explain the transition from a collinear to a canted ground state for a magnetic field applied normal to the (in-plane) easy-axis, and a spin-flop transition when the field is parallel to it. A topologically protected Dirac nodal line is present and robust with respect to both external and anisotropy fields.