Voltage-controlled topological spin textures in the monolayer limit.

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Phase transitions in low-dimensional systems are a key research area.
• Long-range magnetic order in 2D systems is a recent focus, challenging the Mermin-Wagner theorem.
• Demonstrating non-trivial topological spin textures in 2D has been elusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the creation and manipulation of topological spin textures in monolayer CrI3.
• To explore the use of electric fields to control spin-orbit interactions.
• To investigate the potential of 2D topological spin textures for fundamental physics and technology.

Main Methods:

• Applied an out-of-plane electric field to monolayer CrI3.
• Modulated the electronic band structure and spin-orbit interaction.
• Investigated the resulting topological spin textures.

Main Results:

• The electric field broke inversion symmetry and tuned spin-orbit interaction.
• This enabled the creation and manipulation of ideal two-dimensional topological spin textures.
• Demonstrated voltage-controlled engineering of spin textures.

Conclusions:

• Realized ideal 2D topological spin textures in monolayer CrI3.
• Provides a platform for studying the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless mechanism and quantum phenomena.
• Voltage-controlled spin-orbit interaction offers new routes for designing 2D spin textures and skyrmion-based technologies.