Spin-orbit coupling induced anisotropy effects in bimetallic antiferromagnets: A route towards antiferromagnetic spintronics

Abstract

Magnetic anisotropy phenomena in bimetallic antiferromagnets Mn${}_2$Au and MnIr are studied by first-principles density functional theory calculations. We find strong and lattice-parameter dependent magnetic anisotropies of the ground state energy, chemical potential, and density of states, and attribute these anisotropies to combined effects of large moment on the Mn 3$d$ shell and large spin-orbit coupling on the 5$d$ shell of the noble metal. Large magnitudes of the proposed effects can open a route towards spintronics in compensated antiferromagnets without involving ferromagnetic elements.

4 pages, 2 figures

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Phenomenology of Current-Induced Dynamics in Antiferromagnets
• Antiferromagnetic I-Mn-V semiconductors