Magnetic Proximity Effect in a van der Waals Moiré Superlattice

Abstract: We investigate the magnetic proximity effect in van der Waals heterostructure formed by a monolayer semiconductor stacked on a 2D ferromagnet, where the lattice mismatch and twisting between the layers typically lead to the formation of moir\'e pattern. We find that the magnetic proximity effect arising from the spin dependent interlayer coupling depends sensitively on the interlayer atomic registry. Consequently, in the moir\'e pattern, the spatial variation of the atomic registry leads to a lateral modulation of magnetic proximity field. Such moir\'e modulated magnetic proximity effect manifests as a miniband spin splitting that strongly depends on the moir\'e periodicity which can be mechanically tuned by a relative twisting and/or strain between the layers. We also show, because of the moir\'e modulation on the interlayer distance, a perpendicular electric field can be used to control the miniband spin splitting. Our results suggest potential nanodevices where the moir\'e modulated magnetic proximity effect can lead to unique spin controllability.