Current-induced switching of antiferromagnetic order in Mn2Au from first principles

Severin Selzer, Leandro Salemi, András Deák, Eszter Simon, László Szunyogh, Peter M. Oppeneer, and Ulrich Nowak
Phys. Rev. B 105, 174416 – Published 13 May 2022

Abstract

It is well established that it is possible to switch certain antiferromagnets electrically, yet the interplay of Néel-spin-orbit torques and thermal activation is only poorly understood. Combining ab initio calculations and atomistic spin dynamics simulations we develop a multiscale model to study the current-induced switching in Mn2Au. We compute from first principles the strength and direction of the electrically induced magnetic moments, caused by the Rashba-Edelstein effect, and take these into account in atomistic spin dynamics simulations. Our simulations reveal the switching paths as well as the timescales for switching. The size of the induced moments, however, turns out to be insufficient to lead to fully deterministic switching. Instead, we find that a certain degree of thermal activation is required to help overcome the relevant energy barrier.

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  • Received 1 February 2022
  • Revised 26 April 2022
  • Accepted 3 May 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.105.174416

©2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Severin Selzer1, Leandro Salemi2, András Deák3, Eszter Simon3, László Szunyogh3,4, Peter M. Oppeneer2, and Ulrich Nowak1

  • 1Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, DE-78457 Konstanz, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, P. O. Box 516, S-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
  • 3Department of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, HU-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • 4MTA-BME Condensed Matter Research Group, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, HU-1111 Budapest, Hungary

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Issue

Vol. 105, Iss. 17 — 1 May 2022

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