Within spin-based electronics, i.e., spintronics, a novel approach promising ultrafast and stable magnetic memory is based on antiferromagnets as active elements. These materials without macroscopic magnetization but with a staggered orientation of their microscopic magnetic moments display intrinsic dynamics in the Terahertz (THz) range and are robust against magnetic fields.
However, technologically relevant read-out in spintronics requires significant magnetoresistance effects, i.e., resistance changes larger than 20 percent should be associated with a reorientation of the staggered magnetization. This represents a major challenge in antiferromagnetic spintronics.
New approach enables the well-established read-out methods of ferromagnets
As published in the online science journal Nature Communications , scientists of the Institute of Physics of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), within an international collaboration, were now able to demonstrate a strong exchange coupling of very thin ferromagnetic layers to the prototypical antiferromagnetic spintronics compound of manganese and gold (Mn 2 Au). This allows to benefit from the well-established read-out methods of ferromagnets enabling large magnetoresistance effects also in antiferromagnetic spintronics.
Spintronics is a major focus of research at the JGU Institute of Physics. The study was financially supported amongst others by the Transregional Collaborative Research Center 173 "Spin+X – Spin in its collective environment" of TU Kaiserslautern and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Related links:
https://www.klaeui-lab.physik.uni-mainz.de – Kläui Lab at the JGU Institute of Physics ;
https://www.sinova-group.physik.uni-mainz.de/ – Interdisciplinary Spintronics Research (INSPIRE) Group at JGU ;
https://trr173.spin-engineering.de/ – Transregional Collaborative Research Center 173 "Spin+X – Spin in its collective environment"
Read more:
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/10211_ENG_HTML.php – press release "Physicists make one step toward using insulating antiferromagnetic materials in future computers" (25 Oct. 2019) ;
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/9948_ENG_HTML.php – press release "ERC funding for research into three-dimensional magnetic nanostructures" (11 Oct. 2019) ;
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/4356_ENG_HTML.php – press release "Construction set of magnon logic extended: Magnon spin currents can be controlled via spin valve structure" (14 March 2018) ;
https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/aktuell/3937_ENG_HTML.php – press release "Antiferromagnets prove their potential for spin-based information technology" (29 Jan. 2018)
Nature Communications
Readout of an antiferromagnetic spintronics system by strong exchange coupling of Mn2Au and Permalloy
11-Nov-2021