Surface Magnetoelectric Effect in Ferromagnetic Metal Films

TL;DR

This study uses density-functional calculations to demonstrate a surface magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic metal films, showing how electric fields can alter surface magnetization and anisotropy, advancing electrically-controlled magnetism.

Contribution

It reveals a surface magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic films caused by spin-dependent screening, a novel insight into electric field control of magnetic properties.

Findings

Electric fields induce changes in surface magnetization.

Surface magnetocrystalline anisotropy is affected by electric fields.

The effect is observed in Fe(001), Ni(001), and Co(0001) films.

Abstract

A surface magnetoelectric effect is revealed by density-functional calculations that are applied to ferromagnetic Fe(001), Ni(001) and Co(0001) films in the presence of external electric field. The effect originates from spin-dependent screening of the electric field which leads to notable changes in the surface magnetization and the surface magnetocrystalline anisotropy. These results are of considerable interest in the area of electrically-controlled magnetism and magnetoelectric phenomena.