Intrinsic spin Nernst effect of magnons in a noncollinear antiferromagnet

Abstract

We investigate the intrinsic magnon spin current in a noncollinear antiferromagnetic insulator. We introduce a definition of the magnon spin current in a noncollinear antiferromagnet and find that it is in general non-conserved, but for certain symmetries and spin polarizations the averaged effect of non-conserving terms can vanish. We formulate a general linear response theory for magnons in noncollinear antiferromagnets subject to a temperature gradient and analyze the effect of symmetries on the response tensor. We apply this theory to single-layer potassium iron jarosite KFe${}_3$(OH)${}_6$(SO${}_4$)${}_2$ and predict a measurable spin current response.

12 pages and 4 figures