Epitaxial strain controlled magnetocrystalline anisotropy in ultrathin FeRh/MgO bilayers

Publication Type
Journal Article
Authors
DOI
10.1063/1.4974059
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).
Notes
cited By 4
Journal
AIP Advances
Volume
7
Year of Publication
2017
Number
5
Publisher
American Institute of Physics Inc.
ISSN Number
21583226
Keywords
Research Areas
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