Magnetic Edge Anisotropy in Graphenelike Honeycomb Crystals

The independent predictions of edge ferromagnetism and the quantum spin Hall phase in graphene have inspired the quest of other two-dimensional honeycomb systems, such as silicene, germanene, stanene, iridates, and organometallic lattices, as well as artificial superlattices, all of them with electronic properties analogous to those of graphene, but a larger spin-orbit coupling. Here, we study the interplay of ferromagnetic order and spin-orbit interactions at the zigzag edges of these graphenelike systems. We find an in-plane magnetic anisotropy that opens a gap in the otherwise conducting edge channels that should result in large changes of electronic properties upon rotation of the magnetization.

J. F. R. acknowledges financial support by MEC-Spain (FIS2010-21883-C02-01) and Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP/2010/070), Prometeo. This work has been financially supported in part by FEDER funds. We acknowledge financial support by Marie-Curie-ITN 607904-SPINOGRAPH.