Correlation-mediated processes for electron-induced switching between Neel states of Fe anti-ferromagnetic chains

Abstract

The controlled switching between two quasi-stable Neel states in adsorbed anti-ferromagnetic Fe chains has recently been achieved by Loth et al [Science 335, 196 (2012)]. In order to rationalize their data, we evaluate the rate of tunneling electron-induced switching between the Néel states. Good agreement is found with the experiment permitting us to identify three switching mechanisms: (i) low-bias direct electron-induced transitions, (ii) intermediate-bias switching via spin-wave-like excitation, and (iii) high-bias transitions mediated by domain wall formation. Spin correlations in the anti-ferromagnetic chains are the switching driving force leading to a marked chain-size dependence.

5 pages 3 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Excitation of local magnetic moments by tunnelling electrons
• Magnetic transitions induced by tunnelling electrons in individual adsorbed M-Phthalocyanine molecules (M $\equiv$ Fe, Co)
• Quenching of magnetic excitations in single adsorbates at surfaces: Mn on CuN/Cu(100)
• Storage of classical information in quantum spins

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