First principles investigation of magnetocrystalline anisotropy at the L2${}_1$ Full Heusler|MgO interfaces and tunnel junctions

Abstract

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy at Heusler alloy$|$MgO interfaces have been studied using first principles calculations. It is found that Co terminated Co${}_2$FeAl$|$MgO interfaces show perpendicular magnetic anisotropy up to 1.31 mJ/m${}^2$, while those with FeAl termination exhibit in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Atomic layer resolved analysis indicates that the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co${}_2$FeAl$|$MgO interfaces can be attributed to the out-of-plane orbital contributions of interfacial Co atoms. At the same time, Co${}_2$MnGe and Co${}_2$MnSi interfaced with MgO tend to favor in-plane magnetic anisotropy for all terminations.

5 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Origin of interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in MgO/CoFe/metallic capping layer structures
• Anatomy and giant enhancement of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of cobalt-graphene heterostructures
• Impurity induced enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Fe/MgO tunnel junctions

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Pt/Co-based full Heusler alloy/MgO thin films structures
• Interdiffusion in epitaxial ultrathin Co2FeAl/MgO heterostructures with interface-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
• Evolution of the interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant of the Co${}_2$FeAl/MgO interface upon annealing
• First-principles investigation of magnetocrystalline anisotropy oscillations in Co${}_2$FeAl/Ta heterostructures