Topological magnon bands for magnonics

Abstract: Topological excitations in magnetically ordered systems have attracted much attention lately. We report on topological magnon bands in ferromagnetic Shastry-Sutherland lattices whose edge modes can be put to use in magnonic devices. The synergy of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions and geometrical frustration is responsible for the topologically non-trivial character. Using exact spin wave theory we determine the finite Chern numbers of the magnon bands which give rise to chiral edge states. The quadratic band crossing point vanishes due the present anisotropies and the system enters a topological phase. We calculate the thermal Hall conductivity as an experimental signature of the topological phase. Different promising compounds are discussed as possible physical realizations of ferromagnetic Shastry-Sutherland lattices hosting the required antisymmetric Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions. Routes to applications in magnonics are pointed out.