Center, Materials and Nanoscience, Nebraska Center for
Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications
Accessibility Remediation
If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
1-11-2017
Citation
055914-2 Zheng et al. AIP Advances 7, 055914 (2017) Pages 1-5
Abstract
Using ab initio electronic structure calculations we have investigated the effect of epitazial strain on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of ultrathin FeRh/MgO heterostructures. Analysis of the energy- and k-resolved distribution of the orbital character of the band structure reveals that MCA largely arises from the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) between dx2-y2 and dxz/dyz orbitlas of Fe atoms at the FeRh/MhO interface. We demonstrate that the strain has significant effects on the MCA: It not only affects the value of the MCA but also induces a switching of the magnetic easy axis from perpendicular on in-plane direction. The mechanism is the strain-induced shifts of the SOC d-states. Our work demonstrates that strain engineering can open a viable pathway towards tailoring magnetic properties for antiferromagetic spintronic applications.
Included in
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Commons, Condensed Matter Physics Commons, Engineering Physics Commons, Other Physics Commons
Comments
© 2017 Author(s).