Evidence of spin-phonon coupling in CrSiTe$_3$

Abstract

We present the Raman scattering results on layered 2D semiconducting ferromagnetic compound CrSiTe$_3$. Four Raman active modes, predicted by symmetry, have been observed and assigned. The experimental results are supported by DFT calculations. The self-energies of the $A_g^3$ and the $E_g^3$ symmetry modes exhibit unconventional temperature evolution around 180 K. In addition, the doubly degenerate $E_g^3$ mode shows clear change of asymmetry in the same temperature region. The observed behavior is consistent with the presence of the previously reported short-range magnetic order and the strong spin-phonon coupling.