Fyzikální ústav Akademie věd ČR

Roles of nonmagnetic elements on enhancement of perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy: first-principles studies

Seminář Úterý, 13.05.2014 15:00

Přednášející: Soon Cheol Hong (Department of Physics and Energy Harvest-Storage Research Center, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, Republic of Korea)
Místo: Na Slovance, přednáškový sál v přízemí
Jazyk: anglicky
Pořadatelé: Oddělení teorie kondenzovaných látek

Abstract: Ferromagnetic films that can provide perpendicular magnetocrytalline anisotropy (PMCA) are indispensable constituents in spin-transfer torque (STT) MRAM that utilizes spin polarized tunneling current to switch magnetization. Two criteria have to be satisfied for practical usage of high-density magnetic storage - low switching current (ISW) and thermal stability. Small volume of a bit is favored to lower ISW, but detrimental for the thermal stability. However, the small volume can be compensated by large PMCA, while retaining the thermal stability.
In this talk we will discuss roles of nonmagnetic elements in enhancement of PMCA energy. Significant enhancement of PMCA of an Fe(001) surface capped by 4d and 5d transition metal monolayers is found, in particular, an extremely large PMCA of +10 meV/Ir in Ir-capped Fe(001). The origin of the extremely large PMCA will be discussed by calculating the spin-channel decomposed contribution and electronic structure analyses. Strong 3d–5d band hybridization in the minority spin state is responsible for the sign changes of the MCA from parallel to perpendicular. A new metastable phase of the body-centered-tetragonal ruthenium (bct–Ru) is identified to exhibit a large PMCA, whose MCA energy is as large as 150 μeV/atom, two orders of magnitude greater than those of 3d magnetic metals. Further investigation over the range of tetragonal distortion suggests that the appearance of the magnetism in the bct–Ru is governed by the Jahn-Teller spit eg orbitals. Moreover, from band analysis, MCA is mainly determined by an interplay between two eg states, dx2−y2 and dz2 states, as a result of level reversal associated with tetragonal distortion.

Copyright © 2008-2014, Fyzikální ústav AV ČR, v. v. i.