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The first- and second-order magneto-optical effects and intrinsically anomalous transport in 2D van der Waals layered magnets CrXY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = Cl, Br, I)

Recently, the two-dimensional magnetic semiconductor CrSBr has attracted considerable attention due to its excellent air-stable property and high magnetic critical temperature. Here, we systematically investigate the electronic structure, magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, first-order magneto-optical effects (Kerr and Faraday effects) and second-order magneto-optical effects (Schafer-Hubert and Voigt effects) as well as intrinsically anomalous transport properties (anomalous Hall, anomalous Nernst, and anomalous thermal Hall effects) of two-dimensional van der Waals layered magnets CrXY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = Cl, Br, I) by using the first-principles calculations. Our results show that monolayer and bilayer CrXY (X = S, Se) are narrow band gap semiconductors, whereas monolayer and bilayer CrTeY are multi-band metals. The magnetic ground states of bilayer CrXY and the easy magnetization axis of monolayer and bilayer CrXY are confirmed by the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy calculations. Utilizing magnetic group theory analysis, the first-order magneto-optical effects as well as anomalous Hall, anomalous Nernst, and anomalous thermal Hall effects are identified to exist in ferromagnetic state with out-of-plane magnetization. The second-order magneto-optical effects are not restricted by the above symmetry requirements, and therefore can arise in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states with in-plane magnetization. The calculated results are compared with the available theoretical and experimental data of other two-dimensional magnets and some conventional ferromagnets. The present work reveals that monolayer and bilayer CrXY with superior magneto-optical responses and anomalous transport properties provide an excellent material platform for the promising applications of magneto-optical devices, spintronics, and spin caloritronics.