Single-layer Skyrmions in a van der Waals Antiferromagnet

Abstract

Transition metal halides are quasi-two-dimensional van der Waals magnets that can potentially host antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions induced by competing exchange interactions. We study theoretically magnetic states of Fe-doped NiBr$_2$ using spin interactions obtained by fitting experimental data. We find that AFM interlayer interactions suppress skyrmion lattices but allow for skyrmions with topological charges $1,2$ and $3$ confined to a single magnetic layer. These single-layer skyrmions exist in three different magnetic phases and their dynamics changes drastically at the transition from a uniform to a non-collinear modulated state.