AI 中文总结
综述手性磁振子这一磁有序系统中独特的集体自旋激发，基于对称分析等方法提供统一框架，涵盖其对称破缺机制等多方面内容，总结相关边缘态、非互易性增强及非厄米特性等，为相关研究提供全面参考。
AI 中文摘要
手性磁振子是磁有序系统中独特的集体自旋激发，其色散关系打破动量反转对称性，导致本质上的非互易自旋波传播。这为自旋信息传递等提供新机遇，与拓扑磁子学互补且不同。近年来交替磁性的发展拓宽了手性磁振子的物理起源和研究框架。本综述提供统一框架，涵盖对称破缺机制等多方面，基于多种理论和测量方法，总结了相关边缘态、非互易性增强及非厄米特性等，为阐明机制、推进新材料合成与表征及指导下一代非互易磁子器件设计提供全面参考。
英文摘要
Chiral magnons are distinctive collective spin excitations in magnetic ordered systems, whose dispersion relations break momentum-inversion symmetry, $ω(\boldsymbol{k}) \neq ω(-\boldsymbol{k})$, resulting in essential non-reciprocal spin-wave propagation. This built-in directionality provides new opportunities for spin information transfer, thermal-spin interconversion, and low-dissipation non-reciprocal microwave devices, which complement but differ from topological magnonics. In recent years, the proposal and rapid development of altermagnetism have broadened the physical origin and research framework of chiral magnons, making them a research frontier in condensed matter physics. This review presents a unified framework for chiral magnons, covering symmetry-breaking mechanisms, material implementation, experimental characterization, transport response, and many-body non-Hermitian dynamics, and evaluates routes toward room-temperature and device-related platforms. The discussion is based on symmetry analysis, model Hamiltonians, and spin-wave theory, combined with first-principles calculations as well as recent spectroscopic (e.g., inelastic and polarized neutron scattering, Brillouin light scattering) and transport measurements. This review further summarizes bulk-gap and Berry-curvature induced chiral magnon edge states, the enhancement of non-reciprocity via chiral spin pumping and cavity-magnon hybrids, as well as non-Hermitian features arising from multiparticle damping and gain-loss competition. This review provides a comprehensive reference for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of chiral magnons, advancing the synthesis and experimental characterization of novel materials, and also guiding the design of next-generation non-reciprocal magnonic devices.
CommentsThe paper is an English translated version of the original Chinese paper published in $\boldsymbol{Acta}$ $\boldsymbol{Physica}$ $\boldsymbol{Sinica}$. Please cite the paper as: W. Lin, H. Deng, B. T. Wang, and D. X. Yao, Chiral magnons: Mechanisms and research progress. Acta Physica Sinica 75: 050706 (2026). doi: 10.7498/aps.75.20251645
Journal refActa Physica Sinica, 2026, 75(5): 050706
