Magnon spin transport around the compensation magnetic field in easy-plane antiferromagnetic insulators

Abstract

In this work, we theoretically study the magnon spin transport in easy-plane antiferromagnetic insulators in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field. By exactly calculating the magnon spectrum, we find that the band splitting due to magnetic anisotropy can be fully compensated by the external field at a particular strength, which makes the dynamics nearly equivalent to an easy-axis antiferromagnet. As a result, the intrinsic magnon spin Hall effect due to the dipole–dipole interaction, previously predicted in easy-axis antiferromagnets, is activated in easy-plane antiferromagnets. The compensation feature also allows the field control of magnon spin lifetime and hence the spin diffusion length. The compensation feature is robust against biaxial anisotropy.