Interlayer superexchange in bilayer chromium trihalides

Abstract

We construct a microscopic model based on superexchange theory for a moir\'e bilayer in chromium trihalides (Cr$X_3$, $X=$Br, I). In particular, we derive analytically the interlayer Heisenberg exchange and the interlayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction with arbitrary distances (x) between spins. Importantly, our model takes into account sliding and twisting geometries in the interlayer $X$-$X$ hopping processes. Our approach can directly access the $x$-dependent interlayer exchange without large unit-cell calculations. We argue that deducing interlayer exchange by various sliding bilayers may lead to an incomplete result in a moir\'e bilayer. Using the \textit{ab initio} tight-binding Hamiltonian, we numerically evaluate the exchange interactions in CrI$_3$. We find that our analytical model agrees with previous comprehensive density functional theory studies. Furthermore, our findings reveal the important role of the correlation effects in the $X$'s $p$ orbitals, which gives rise to a rich interlayer magnetic interaction with remarkable tunability.