Nonlinear dynamics and magneto-elasticity of nanodrums near the phase transition.

Šiškins, Makars; Keşkekler, Ata; Houmes, Maurits J A; Mañas-Valero, Samuel; Koperski, Maciej; Coronado, Eugenio; Blanter, Yaroslav M; van der Zant, Herre S J et al. · Nat Commun · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Nanomechanical resonances of two-dimensional (2D) materials are sensitive probes for condensedmatter physics, offering new insights into magnetic and electronic phase transitions. Despite extensive research, the influence of the spin dynamics near a phase transition on the nonlinear dynamics of 2D membranes has remained largely unexplored. Here, we investigate nonlinear magneto-mechanical coupling to antiferromagnetic order in suspended FePS<sub>3</sub>-based heterostructure membranes. By monitoring the motion of these membranes as a function of temperature, we observe characteristic features in both nonlinear stiffness and damping close to the Néel temperature T<sub>N</sub>. We account for these experimental observations with an analytical magnetostriction model in which these nonlinearities emerge from a coupling between mechanical and magnetic oscillations, demonstrating that magneto-elasticity can lead to nonlinear damping. Our findings thus provide insights into the thermodynamics and magneto-mechanical energy dissipation mechanisms in nanomechanical resonators due to the material's phase change and magnetic order relaxation.