  Van der Waals magnets provide opportunities for exploring low-dimensional
magnetism and spintronic phenomena. The Mermin-Wagner theorem states that
long-range correlations in reduced dimensions are stabilized and controlled by
magnetic anisotropy. In this study, we meticulously create and control the
in-plane easy-axis magnetic anisotropy within two-dimensional (2D) van der
Waals antiferromagnet MnPSe3 via a novel method involving topography and
therefore strain control by using a micro-patterned substrate. By transposing
the MnPSe3 thin flakes onto a substrate patterned with micro-scale grooves, we
introduce local uniaxial strain pattern, which not only locks the spin
direction to the strain direction but also replicates the groove pattern in the
spin orientation distribution. Our approach generates spin orientations that
correspond to the substrate patterns, therefore having the potential to
significantly advance spintronic devices by offering a unique method for
manipulating and designing spin textures in easy-plane magnets.
