Mass-energy equivalence for terahertz magnon excitation in antiferromagnetic domain walls

Abstract

The theory of special relativity is one of the most significant achievements in modern physics, with several important predictions such as time dilation, size contraction for a moving object and mass-energy equivalence. Recent studies have demonstrated size contraction for an antiferromagnetic (AFM) domain wall (DW). Here, we show the mass-energy equivalence by numerically investigating the excitation of terahertz (THz) magnons from a moving AFM DW under the magnetic anisotropy energy gradient. The energy of magnons comes from the loss of DW mass, accompanied with a DW width broadening, overcoming the Lorentz contraction effect. Our results pave the way to study relativistic physics in AFM textures and to efficiently generate THz magnons by electric means.