Epitaxial strain controlled magnetocrystalline anisotropy in ultrathin FeRh/MgO bilayers

Publication Type

Journal Article

Authors

DOI

Abstract

Using ab initio electronic structure calculations we have investigated the effect of epitaxial 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 orbitals of Fe atoms at the FeRh/MgO 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 to 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. © 2017 Author(s).

Journal

AIP Advances

Volume

7

Year of Publication

2017

ISSN

21583226

Notes

cited By 4

Research Areas