Theory of Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy Energy for Wires and Corrals of Fe adatoms: A Non-Perturbative Theory

Abstract

The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy $E_{anis}$ for free-standing chains (quantum wires) and rings (quantum corrals) of Fe-adatoms $N=$(2...48) is determined using an electronic tight-binding theory. Treating spin-orbit coupling non-perturbatively, we analyze the relationship between the electronic structure of the Fe $d$-electrons and $E_{anis}(n_d)$, for both the chain and ring conformations. We find that $E_{anis}(N)$ is larger for wires than for rings or infinite monolayers. Generally $E_{anis}(n_d)$ decreases in chains upon increasing $N$, while for rings $E_{anis}(n_d)$ is essentially independent of $N$. For increasing $N$, $E_{anis}(n_d)$ in corrals approaches the results for freestanding monolayers. Small rings exhibit clear odd-even oscillations of $E_{anis}(N)$. Within our theoretical framework we are able to explain the experimentally observed oscillations of $E_{anis}(n_d)$ during film growth with a period of one monolayer. Finally, a generalization of Hund's third rule on spin-orbit coupling to itinerant ferromagnets is proposed.

9 pages, RevTex, 9 postscript figures