Large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of single Co atom on MgO monolayer: A first-principles study

Journal Article · Thu May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4917267· OSTI ID:22409951

Shao, Bin; Shi, Wu-Jun ^[1]; Feng, Min ^[2]; Zuo, Xu ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)
2. School of Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071 (China)
3. College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071 (China)

Realizing the magnetic bit with a single atom is the ultimate goal for magnetic storage. Based on density functional theory, the magnetic anisotropy (MA) of single Co atom on MgO monolayer has been investigated. Results show that this two dimensional system possesses a large perpendicular MA, about 5.8 meV per Co atom. Besides, there exists remarkable unquenched orbital moments for different magnetization directions, which can be attributed to the reduction of coordination number in two dimensional system and is responsible for the enhanced MA. The Bloch pseudo-wavefunction and band structure of Co d-orbitals have been calculated to elucidate the origin of the perpendicular MA.

• OSTI ID: 22409951
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 17; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANISOTROPY
ATOMS
COBALT
COORDINATION NUMBER
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL METHOD
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETIZATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS
WAVE FUNCTIONS