Magnetic Skyrmions in Atomic Thin CrI$_3$ Monolayer

TL;DR

This study visualizes and demonstrates the formation of nanoscale magnetic skyrmions in monolayer CrI$_3$, showing how electric fields can control their properties, with implications for quantum engineering and sensing.

Contribution

It reveals the creation and control of atomic-scale skyrmions in CrI$_3$ monolayer using electric fields, combining theoretical methods to predict their behavior.

Findings

Skyrmions can be stabilized in CrI$_3$ monolayer at 0 K.

Electric fields influence skyrmion size and shape.

Magneto-crystalline anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are key factors.

Abstract

In this letter, we report the visualization of topologically protected spin textures, in the form of magnetic skyrmions, in recently discovered monoatomic-thin two-dimensional CrI$_3$. By combining density functional theory and atomistic spin dynamic simulation, we demonstrate that an application of out-of-plane electric field to CrI$_3$ lattice favors the formation of sub-10 nm skyrmions at 0 K temperature. The spin texture arises due to a strong correlation between magneto-crystalline anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and the vertical electric field, whose shape and size could be tuned with the magnetic field. Such finding will open new avenues for atomic-scale quantum engineering and precision sensing.