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@PHDTHESIS{Abuawwad:1039804,
author = {Abuawwad, Nihad},
title = {{A}b initio investigation of topological magnetism in
two-dimensional van der {W}aals heterostructures},
volume = {291},
school = {Duisburg-Essen},
type = {Dissertation},
address = {Jülich},
publisher = {Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag},
reportid = {FZJ-2025-01804},
isbn = {978-3-95806-808-7},
series = {Schriften des Forschungszentrums Jülich Reihe
Schlüsseltechnologien / Key Technologies},
pages = {xviii, 135},
year = {2025},
note = {Dissertation, Duisburg-Essen, 2024},
abstract = {Magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) van der Walls (vdW)
materials is a rapidly evolving field in condensed matter
physics and materials science, marked by intriguing
discoveries and potential applications. Unlike traditional
three-dimensional materials, 2D vdW materials are
characterized by their ultra-thin, often single-layer,
structure leading to unique magnetic properties triggered by
proximity-effects, which are facilitated by the underlying
vdW gap. Such properties are not only fundamental for
understanding the physics of low-dimensional systems but
also hold immense promise for the development of advanced
technologies in data storage, spintronics, and quantum
computing. Building on the foundational understanding of
magnetism in 2D materials, this thesis dives deeper into the
specific case of CrTe2 and CrSBr. Based on a multiscale
modelling approach that combines first-principles
calculations and a Heisenberg model supplied with ab-initio
parameters, we report a strong magnetoelastic coupling in a
free-standing monolayer of CrTe2. We demonstrate that
different crystal structures of a single CrTe2 give rise to
non-collinear magnetism through magnetic frustration and the
emergence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI).
Utilizing atomistic spin relaxation, we perform a detailed
investigation of the complex magnetic properties pertaining
to this 2D material impacted by the presence of various
types of structural distortions akin to charge density
waves. Also, we demonstrate that interfacing a CrTe2 layer
with various Te-based layers enables the control of the
magnetic exchange and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions as
well as the magnetic anisotropy energy of the whole
heterobilayer, and thereby the emergence of topological
magnetic phases such as skyrmions and antiferromagnetic
N´eel merons. The latter are novel particles in the world
of topological magnetism since they arise in a frustrated
N´eel magnetic environment and manifest as multiples of
intertwined hexamer-textures. Our findings pave a promising
road for proximity-induced engineering of both ferromagnetic
and long-sought antiferromagnetic chiral objects in the very
same 2D material, which is appealing for new information
technology devices employing quantum materials. Moreover, we
demonstrate the all-electric switching of the topological
nature of individual magnetic objects emerging in 2D vdW
heterobilayers. We show that an external electric field
modifies the vdW gap between CrTe2 and (Rh, Ti)Te2 layers
and alters the underlying magnetic interactions. This
enables switching between ferromagnetic skyrmions and meron
pairs in the CrTe2/RhTe2 heterobilayer while it enhances the
stability of frustrated antiferromagnetic merons in the
CrTe2/TiTe2 heterobilayer. We envision that the electrical
engineering of distinct topological magnetic solitons in a
single device could pave the way for novel energy-efficient
mechanisms to store and transmit information with
applications in spintronics. Finally, via machine learning
concepts we integrated linear spin wave theory (LSWT) with
activelearning sampling to develop a Kalman Filter
Adversarial Bayesian Optimization (KFABO) algorithm. This
algorithm excels at managing highly noisy experimental
spectra of 2D bulk CrSBr, aiming to map the experimentally
extracted magnon spectrum with minimal sampling points and
iterations. Additionally, the KFABO algorithm is designed to
accurately extract magnetic parameters from inelastic
neutron scattering data, significantly enhancing the
efficiency and accuracy of experimental measurements.},
cin = {PGI-1},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)PGI-1-20110106},
pnm = {5211 - Topological Matter (POF4-521)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-5211},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)3 / PUB:(DE-HGF)11},
doi = {10.34734/FZJ-2025-01804},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1039804},
}