Abstract
The state tracking method proposed recently is employed for the first-principles local density determination of interface magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energy by the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The interface MCA mechanism involving Co is studied with the Co-Cu interface as an example. The free standing Co monolayer is found to exhibit a strong negative MCA (easy axis in the layer plane), -1.35 meV, due to the spin-orbit coupling between spin-down bonding z2 and anti-bonding xz or yz states along Δ in the Brillouin zone, and between anti-bonding z2 and bonding xz and yz states near M̄. At the Co-Cu interface, the out-of-plane Co bonding z2, xz and yz states interact strongly with the Cu states, giving rise to the main change: a decrease in the magnitude of this negative contribution. Together with the effect of changes in band filling and the contribution from the spin-orbit coupling between opposite spins, the interface MCA energy of a Co layer is -0.38 meV for a Co overlayer on a Cu(001) substrate, and near zero (-0.01 meV) for a Co layer sandwiched between a Cu(001) matrix. These results are in very good agreement with recent in situ experimental measurements. An effective ligand interaction model is developed which successfully interprets the first principles results and further shows how the interface MCA depends on the energy of the d orbitals of the interface atoms and the strength of the interface bonds.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 237-258 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials |
| Volume | 129 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2 1994 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
Cite this
Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of interfaces : first-principles theory for Co-Cu interface and interpretation by an effective ligand interaction model. / Wang, Ding sheng; Wu, Ruqian; Freeman, Arthur J.
In: Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Vol. 129, No. 2-3, 02.01.1994, p. 237-258.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of interfaces
T2 - first-principles theory for Co-Cu interface and interpretation by an effective ligand interaction model
AU - Wang, Ding sheng
AU - Wu, Ruqian
AU - Freeman, Arthur J
PY - 1994/1/2
Y1 - 1994/1/2
N2 - The state tracking method proposed recently is employed for the first-principles local density determination of interface magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energy by the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The interface MCA mechanism involving Co is studied with the Co-Cu interface as an example. The free standing Co monolayer is found to exhibit a strong negative MCA (easy axis in the layer plane), -1.35 meV, due to the spin-orbit coupling between spin-down bonding z2 and anti-bonding xz or yz states along Δ in the Brillouin zone, and between anti-bonding z2 and bonding xz and yz states near M̄. At the Co-Cu interface, the out-of-plane Co bonding z2, xz and yz states interact strongly with the Cu states, giving rise to the main change: a decrease in the magnitude of this negative contribution. Together with the effect of changes in band filling and the contribution from the spin-orbit coupling between opposite spins, the interface MCA energy of a Co layer is -0.38 meV for a Co overlayer on a Cu(001) substrate, and near zero (-0.01 meV) for a Co layer sandwiched between a Cu(001) matrix. These results are in very good agreement with recent in situ experimental measurements. An effective ligand interaction model is developed which successfully interprets the first principles results and further shows how the interface MCA depends on the energy of the d orbitals of the interface atoms and the strength of the interface bonds.
AB - The state tracking method proposed recently is employed for the first-principles local density determination of interface magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energy by the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The interface MCA mechanism involving Co is studied with the Co-Cu interface as an example. The free standing Co monolayer is found to exhibit a strong negative MCA (easy axis in the layer plane), -1.35 meV, due to the spin-orbit coupling between spin-down bonding z2 and anti-bonding xz or yz states along Δ in the Brillouin zone, and between anti-bonding z2 and bonding xz and yz states near M̄. At the Co-Cu interface, the out-of-plane Co bonding z2, xz and yz states interact strongly with the Cu states, giving rise to the main change: a decrease in the magnitude of this negative contribution. Together with the effect of changes in band filling and the contribution from the spin-orbit coupling between opposite spins, the interface MCA energy of a Co layer is -0.38 meV for a Co overlayer on a Cu(001) substrate, and near zero (-0.01 meV) for a Co layer sandwiched between a Cu(001) matrix. These results are in very good agreement with recent in situ experimental measurements. An effective ligand interaction model is developed which successfully interprets the first principles results and further shows how the interface MCA depends on the energy of the d orbitals of the interface atoms and the strength of the interface bonds.
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U2 - 10.1016/0304-8853(94)90117-1
DO - 10.1016/0304-8853(94)90117-1
M3 - Article
VL - 129
SP - 237
EP - 258
JO - Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
JF - Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
SN - 0304-8853
IS - 2-3
ER -