Using density functional theory calculations and the Greens's function
formalism, we report the existence of magnetic edge states with a non-collinear
spin texture present on different edges of the 1T' phase of the three monolayer
transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs): MoS2​, MoTe2​ and WTe2​. The
magnetic states are gapless and accompanied by a spontaneous breaking of the
time-reversal symmetry. This may have an impact on the prospects of utilizing
WTe2​ as a quantum spin Hall insulator. It has previously been suggested that
the topologically protected edge states of the 1T' TMDs could be switched off
by applying a perpendicular electric field. We confirm with fully
self-consistent DFT calculations, that the topological edge states can be
switched off. The investigated magnetic edge states are seen to be robust and
remains gapless when applying a field.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure