Probing magnetism via spin dynamics in graphene/2D-ferromagnet heterostructures

Abstract

The recent discovery of two-dimensional magnetic insulators has generated a great deal of excitement over their potential for nanoscale manipulation of spin or magnetism. One intriguing use for these materials is to put them in contact with graphene, with the goal of making graphene magnetic while maintaining its unique electronic properties. Such a system could prove useful in applications such as magnetic memories, or could serve as a host for exotic states of matter. Proximity to a magnetic insulator will alter the spin transport properties of graphene, and the strength of this interaction can be probed with Hanle spin precession experiments. To aid in the analysis of such experiments, in this work we derive an explicit expression for Hanle spin precession in graphene interfaced with a ferromagnetic insulator whose magnetization points perpendicular to the graphene plane. We find that this interface results in a shifted and asymmetric Hanle response, and we discuss how this behavior can be used to interpret measurements of spin transport in these systems.