Magnetization textures in twisted bilayer 2D CrX$_3$ (X=Br, I)

TL;DR

This paper studies how twisting bilayer 2D magnets CrX3 (X=Br, I) creates periodic magnetization domains and textures, which can be controlled by external magnetic fields, revealing new possibilities for magnetic pattern engineering.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation of tunable, topologically diverse magnetization textures in twisted bilayer CrX3 due to stacking-dependent interlayer magnetic interactions.

Findings

Periodic magnetization domains form in moiré patterns.

Magnetization textures with various topological numbers can be engineered.

External magnetic fields can tune the magnetization textures.

Abstract

Motivated by the recent experiment demonstration of stacking dependent interlayer magnetic interaction [T. Song et al., Nat. Mater. 18, 1298 (2019); T. Li et al., Nat. Mater. 18, 1303 (2019); W. Chen et al., Science 366, 983 (2019)], we investigate the magnetization textures and the control possibilities in the moir\'{e} pattern formed of twisted bilayer two-dimensional (2D) magnets CrX$_3$ (X=Br, I). We find that the stacking dependent interlayer magnetic interaction results in the formation of periodic magnetization domains in a long-period moir\'{e} pattern. Magnetization textures with various topological numbers can be constructed, depending on the winding of the textures around the domain walls. A uniform external magnetic field competes with the lateral modulated interlayer magnetic interaction and can be utilized to tune the magnetization textures.