Multi-Meron Interactions and Statistics in Two-Dimensional Materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a discrete method to analyze merons in 2D magnets, revealing their interactions and statistics, and aligns well with Monte Carlo simulations for real materials.

Contribution

A novel discrete modeling approach for merons that captures their interactions and statistical behavior in 2D magnetic materials.

Findings

Logarithmic-scale interaction between merons at large distances.

Excellent agreement with Monte Carlo simulations.

Predicts evolution of meron properties with magnetic exchange.

Abstract

As a fundamental type of topological spin textures in two-dimensional (2D) magnets, a magnetic meron carries half-integer topological charge and forms a pair with its antithesis to keep the stability in materials. However, it is challenging to quantitatively calculate merons and their dynamics by using the widely used continuum model because of the characteristic highly inhomogeneous spin textures. In this work, we develop a discrete method to address the concentrated spin structures around the core of merons. We reveal a logarithmic-scale interaction between merons when their distance is larger than twice their core size and obtain subsequent statistics of meron gas. The model also predicts how these properties of single and paired merons evolve with magnetic exchange interactions, and the results are in excellent agreement with the Monte Carlo simulations using the parameters of real 2D van der Waals magnetic materials. This discrete approach not only shows equilibrium static statistics of meron systems but also is useful to further explore the dynamic properties of merons through the quantified pairing interactions.