We present a comprehensive theory
of the magnetic phases in twisted
bilayer chromium trihalides through a combination of first-principles
calculations and atomistic simulations. We show that the stacking-dependent
interlayer exchange leads to an effective moiré field that
is mostly ferromagnetic with antiferromagnetic patches. A wide range
of noncollinear magnetic phases can be stabilized as a function of
the twist angle and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction as a
result of the competing interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling and
the energy cost for forming domain walls. In particular, we demonstrate
that for small twist angles various skyrmion crystal phases can be
stabilized in both CrI3 and CrBr3. Our results
provide an interpretation for the recent observation of noncollinear
magnetic phases in twisted bilayer CrI3 and demonstrate
the possibility of engineering further nontrivial magnetic ground
states in twisted bilayer chromium trihalides.
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