Epitaxial strain controlled magnetocrystalline anisotropy in ultrathin FeRh/MgO bilayers

Authors

Guohul Zheng, Tongji University & California State University
San-Huang Ke, Tongji UniversityFollow
Maosheng Miao, California State University
Jinwoong Kim, California State University
R, Ramesh, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Nicholas Kioussis, California State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

1-11-2017

Citation

055914-2 Zheng et al. AIP Advances 7, 055914 (2017) Pages 1-5

Comments

© 2017 Author(s).

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 d_x2-y2 and d_xz/d_yz 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.