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| Electric Field-Induced Modification of Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy in Transition-metal Films and at Metal-Insulator Interfaces |
| Journal of Magnetics, Volume 16, Number 2, 30 Jun 2011, Pages 161-163 |
K. Nakamura *  (Department of Physics Engineering, Mie University), T. Akiyama (Department of Physics Engineering, Mie University), T. Ito (Department of Physics Engineering, Mie University), M. Weinert (Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), A. J. Freeman (Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University) |
| Abstract |
We report results of first principles calculations for effects of an external electric field (E-field) on the
magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) in transition-metal (Fe, Co, and Ni) monolayers and at metal-insulator (Fe/MgO) interfaces by means of full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. For the monolayers, the MCA in the Fe monolayer (but not in the Co and Ni) is modified by the E-field, and a giant modification is achieved in the Fe0.75Co0.25. For the Fe/MgO interfaces, the ideal Fe/MgO interface gives rise to a large out-ofplane MCA, and a MCA modification is induced when an E-field is introduced. However, the existence of an interfacial FeO layer between the Fe layer and the MgO substrate may play a key role in demonstrating an Efield- driven MCA switching, i.e., from out-of-plane MCA to in-plane MCA.
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| Keywords: magnetocrystalline anisotropy; external electric field; transition-metal films; metal-insulator interfaces; first principles calculations |
| DOI: 10.4283/JMAG.2011.16.2.161 |
| Full Text: PDF |
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