Impact of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the stability of skyrmions within a CrI3 monolayer under the application of an electric field

We employ a combined approach of density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulations to explore how the magnetic properties of a single layer of chromium tri-iodide (CrI₃) are influenced by the application of an out-plane electric field. At T=0 K, Our simulations suggest that for an electric field of 2 V/nm applied perpendicularly to the crystal plane, along with a moderate magnetic field, spontaneously induces a skyrmionic ground state. Furthermore, the dependence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction on the creation of skyrmions by manipulation of the external magnetic field is systematically discussed. In the presence and absence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy (K${}_a$), we found that skyrmions emerge and vanish at distinct and well-defined values of the applied magnetic field (B). In addition, we examined the impact of B on the skyrmions properties, such as the skyrmion number (N${}_{sky}$) and size (d). Finally, we created a map showing the different magnetic states of CrI₃ at various temperatures and magnetic field strengths. Overall, we found that simulating skyrmions in the CrI₃ is energetically more favorable when magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant is considered.