Magnetic anisotropy by Rashba spin-orbit coupling in antiferromagnetic thin films

Abstract

Magnetic anisotropy in an antiferromagnet (AFM) with inversion symmetry breaking (ISB) is investigated. The magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) resulting from the Rashba spin-orbit and s-d type exchange interactions is determined for two different models of AFMs. The global ISB model, representing the effect of a surface, an interface, or a gating electric field, results in an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy. In contrast, for a local ISB model, i.e., for a noncentrosymmetric AFM, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) arises. Both results differ from the ferromagnetic case, in which the result for PMA depends on the band structure and dimensionality. These MAE contributions play a key role in determining the direction of the Neel order parameter in antiferromagnetic nanostructures, and reflect the possibility of electrical-field control of the Neel vector.

4 pages, 2 figures

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Voltage-driven Magnetization Switching via Dirac Magnetic Anisotropy and Spin--orbit Torque in Topological-insulator-based Magnetic Heterostructures
• Temperature Dependence of Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy in Itinerant Ferromagnets
• Theoretical Study of Temperature Dependence of Spin Susceptibility in Anisotropic Itinerant Ferromagnets
• Impact of thermal fluctuations on transport in antiferromagnetic semimetals