Magnetism of Nanowires Driven by Novel Even-Odd Effects

Samir Lounis, Peter H. Dederichs, and Stefan Blügel
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 107204 – Published 5 September 2008

Abstract

The parity of the number of atoms in finite antiferromagnetic nanowires deposited on ferromagnets is shown to be a crucial quantity determining their magnetic ground state. Relating results of the full-potential Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method for noncollinear magnetism from first principles to a Heisenberg model, we show that the magnetic structure changes dramatically across the entire nanowire if one single atom is added to it. Infinite and finite even-numbered nanochains exhibit always noncollinear magnetism, while odd-numbered wires lead under given conditions to a collinear ferrimagnetic ground state. This extremely nonlocal effect occurs only for nanosized wires.

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  • Received 27 November 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.107204

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Samir Lounis*, Peter H. Dederichs, and Stefan Blügel

  • Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany

  • *s.lounis@fz-juelich.de

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Vol. 101, Iss. 10 — 5 September 2008

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