First-principles calculation and theoretical study of 2D van der Waals magnets and their magneto-elastic coupling effect

The discovery of magnetic van der Waals materials opens a new research area of realizing the novel quantum states and topological spin texture, such as skyrmion. As an important tuning knob of the 2D magnets, strain can play a critical role in controlling the magnetic anisotropy through magneto-elastic coupling and hence produces novel spin textures. In this study, we performed first-principles calculations to characterize the magneto-elastic effect and the magnetic anisotropy of 2D magnets. We implemented a continuum model to simulate the response of spin textures and magnon dynamics under various external strain field. This study reveals a new approach of controlling the 2D spin texture through the design of strain field.