Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research

 

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

4-17-2020

Citation

GURUNG, SHAO, AND TSYMBAL. PHYSICAL REVIEW B 101, 140405(R) (2020). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.101.140405

Comments

Used by permission.

Abstract

Antiferromagnetic (AFM) spintronics exploits the Néel vector as a state variable for novel electronic devices. Recent studies have demonstrated that the Néel vector can be switched by a spin-orbit torque. These studies however are largely limited to collinear antiferromagnets of proper magnetic space-group symmetry. There is, however, a large group of high-temperature noncollinear antiferromagnets, which are suitable for such switching. Here, we predict that spin torque can be efficiently used to switch a noncollinear AFM order in antiperovskite materials. Based on first-principles calculations and atomistic spin-dynamics modeling, we show that in antiperovskites ANMn3 (A = Ga, Ni, etc.) with the AFM Γ4g ground state, the AFM order can be switched on the picosecond timescale using a spin torque generated by a spin current. The threshold switching current density can be tuned by the ANMn3 stoichiometry engineering, changing the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The Γ4g AFM phase supports a sizable anomalous Hall effect, which can be used to detect the spin-torque switching of the AFM order. The predicted ultrafast switching dynamics and the efficient detection of the AFM order state make noncollinear magnetic antiperovskites a promising material platform for AFM spintronics.

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