Emergence of polar skyrmions in 2D Janus CrInX3 (X=Se, Te) magnets

Abstract In the realm of multiferroicity in 2D magnets, whether magnetic and polar skyrmions can coexist within a single topological entity has emerged as an important question. Here, we study Janus 2D magnets CrInX₃ (X=Se, Te) for a comprehensive investigation of magnetic ground state, magnetic excited state, and corresponding ferroelectric polarization by first-principles electronic structure calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Specifically, we have thoroughly elucidated the exchange mechanisms, including both isotropic Heisenberg exchange and the antisymmetric Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, and have fully exemplified the magnetic field dependence of the magnon spectrum. More importantly, our study reveals a previously unrecognized, remarkably large spin-spiral-induced ferroelectric polarization (up to 194.9 μC/m²) in both compounds. We propose an approach to identify polar skyrmions within magnetic skyrmions, based on the observed direct correlation between spin texture and polarization density. The elucidation of this correlation not only deepens our understanding of magnetic skyrmions but also paves the way for innovative research in the realm of multiferroic skyrmions.