Spin transfer torques and spin-dependent transport in a metallic F/AF/N tunneling junction

Yamamoto K, Gomonay O, Sinova J, Schwiete G (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Physical Review B American Physical Society

Book Volume: 98

Article Number: 014406

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.98.014406

Abstract

We study spin-dependent electron transport through a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic-normal metal tunneling junction subject to a voltage or temperature bias, in the absence of spin-orbit coupling. We derive microscopic formulas for various types of spin torque acting on the antiferromagnet as well as for charge and spin currents flowing through the junction. The obtained results are applicable in the limit of slow magnetization dynamics. We identify a parameter regime in which an unconventional dampinglike torque can become comparable in magnitude to the equivalent of the conventional Slonczewski's torque generalized to antiferromagnets. Moreover, we show that the antiferromagnetic sublattice structure opens up a channel of electron transport which does not have a ferromagnetic analog and that this mechanism leads to a pronounced fieldlike torque. Both charge conductance and spin current transmission through the junction depend on the relative orientation of the ferromagnetic and the antiferromagnetic vectors (order parameters). The obtained formulas for charge and spin currents allow us to identify the microscopic mechanisms responsible for this angular dependence and to assess the efficiency of an antiferromagnetic metal acting as a spin current polarizer.

Involved external institutions

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) US United States (USA) (US) Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Yamamoto, K., Gomonay, O., Sinova, J., & Schwiete, G. (2018). Spin transfer torques and spin-dependent transport in a metallic F/AF/N tunneling junction. Physical Review B, 98(1). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.014406

MLA:

Yamamoto, Kei, et al. "Spin transfer torques and spin-dependent transport in a metallic F/AF/N tunneling junction." Physical Review B 98.1 (2018).

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