Decoding anomalous thermal transport in magnetic semiconductors.

ABSTRACT: Thermal conductivity in semiconductors typically decreases at high temperatures due to enhanced phonon-phonon interactions. In contrast, certain magnetic semiconductors, such as chromium nitride (CrN), exhibit an increased thermal conductivity above its Néel temperature, predicted to be caused by strong spin-phonon coupling. However, this hypothesis lacks experimental verification and detailed understanding. Here, we present conclusive experimental evidence showing that the enhanced thermal conductivity in CrN arises from anomalous temperature-dependent acoustic phonon lifetimes, driven by a dynamic coupling between spin fluctuations and acoustic phonons in the system. Temperature-dependent inelastic x-ray scattering measurements reveal that acoustic phonon lifetimes in CrN are strongly su

SUBMITTER: Biswas B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758556 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature