PhoMagCool · Ultrafast Spin-Lattice Cooling via Hyperbolic Phonon Polaritons in van der Waals Magnets

The next-generation spintronic device will be restricted by heat management. In ultrathin 2D van der Waals magnets, ultrafast optical or electrical pulses deposit large amounts of energy, while traditional lattice cooling is much slower. This difference often leads to rapid demagnetization and fluctuating spin order, which in turn limits both device speed and long-term stability. Given the limited practical cooling solutions available, it is difficult to remove the massive heat stored in nanoscale devices. PhoMagCool will investigate active ultrafast cooling through hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) using a new theoretical and computational approach to nanoscale heat management. HPhPs in materials like hBN greatly enhance interfacial thermal transfer, while graphene can help bridge spectral mismatches and potentially channel energy away from the magnetic layer itself. The goal is to explore whether polariton-assisted cooling can stabilize spin-lattice dynamics long enough to prevent excess lattice energy from disrupting magnetic order. PhoMagCool will develop a multiscale computational framework coupling atomistic spin-lattice models with fluctuational electrodynamics. Specific objectives include: developing a computational model of graphene-mediated near-field heat transfer; simulating non-equilibrium spin-lattice dynamics under ultrafast cooling; optimizing interlayer rotation to improve thermal transport; and creating open-source simulation tools. The project is highly interdisciplinary, spanning magnetism, nanophotonics, thermodynamics, and AI-based optimization. PhoMagCool aims to provide predictive insights for designing thermally stable 2D spintronic devices, establish open-access design rules, and lay the groundwork for active heat management strategies in ultrafast, energy-efficient quantum technologies.