Magnetoelectricity of Topological Solitons in 2D Magnets

Abstract

We develop a multiscale approach to magnetoelectric effects, bridging atomistic and continuum models, with all parameters determined from ab initio electronic structure calculations. We show that the parameters of the model are equivalent to the electric field-induced Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interactions. After careful validation, we apply the models to study electric polarization and dipole moments carried by spin spirals and topological solitons, in the form of magnetic domain walls and Skyrmions, in the prototypical 2D magnet CrI$_3$. We show that the reduced symmetry of the material leads to additional magnetoelectric coupling terms, dominating over those expected in high symmetry (cubic) materials. An interesting consequence is that Skyrmions carry an out-of-plane electric dipole moment, while that of anti-Skyrmions is an order of magnitude larger and in-plane. Finally, we discuss the possibility to stabilize non-collinear spin states using electric fields.