Abstract
The electric-field-induced switching of magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) between in-plane and out-of-plane orientations is investigated by first-principles calculations for the prototypical Fe on MgO(001) system. Our results predict that an ideal abrupt Fe/MgO interface gives rise to a large out-of-plane MCA due to weak Fe-O hybridization at the interface, but the MCA switching by an applied electric field is found to be difficult to achieve. Instead, the existence of an interfacial FeO layer plays a key role in demonstrating the MCA switching that accompanies an electric-field-induced displacement of Fe atoms on the interfacial FeO layer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 220409 |
| Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 22 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
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Nakamura, K., Akiyama, T., Ito, T., Weinert, M., & Freeman, A. J. (2010). Role of an interfacial FeO layer in the electric-field-driven switching of magnetocrystalline anisotropy at the Fe/MgO interface. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 81(22), [220409]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.220409