Tailoring magnetocrystalline anisotropy of FePt by external strain

Authors

Pavel Lukashev, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nathan Horrell, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Renat F. Sabirianov, University of Nebraska - OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS 111, 07A318 (2012); doi:10.1063/1.3673853

Comments

Copyright 2012 American Institute of Physics. Used by permission.

Abstract

We propose using strain assisted reduction in anisotropy of FePt to control magnetization reversal in the writing on the magnetic storage devices. Our first-principles calculations show 21% decrease of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) with application of 1.5% tensile biaxial strain. The reduction of MAE is primarily due to the change of the c/a ratio and to some extent due to the increase in volume. We propose building bilayer (or heterostructure) of FePt and piezoelectric film. This system is expected to allow the control of anisotropy constant by applying electric field to the system. Finally, we discuss the possibility of forming medium using bi-layer of FePt and soft magnetic material with the gradient of anisotropy constant.