Magnetic edge anisotropy in graphene-like honeycomb crystals

Abstract

The independent predictions of edge ferromagnetism and the Quantum Spin Hall phase in graphene have inspired the quest of other two dimensional honeycomb systems, such as silicene, germanene, stanene, iridiates, and organometallic lattices, as well as artificial superlattices, all of them with electronic properties analogous to those of graphene, but much larger spin orbit coupling. Here we study the interplay of ferromagnetic order and spin orbit interactions at the zigzag edges of these graphene-like systems. We find an in-plane magnetic anisotropy that opens a gap in the otherwise conducting edge channels, that should result in large changes of electronic properties upon rotation of the magnetization.