Currentless reversal of N\'eel vector in antiferromagnets

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates a low-energy, currentless method to reversibly switch the Néel vector in antiferromagnets using electrical pulses, leveraging inertial effects for ultrafast and energy-efficient spintronic control.

Contribution

It introduces a novel currentless Néel vector reversal mechanism in antiferromagnets driven by electrical pulses, highlighting inertial effects and ultrafast dynamics.

Findings

Reversal achieved without angular momentum transfer.

Switching energy is in the attojoule range.

Reversal occurs orders of magnitude faster than ferromagnetic counterparts.

Abstract

The bias driven perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is a magneto-electric effect that can realize 90$^\circ$ magnetization rotation and even 180$% ^\circ $ flip along the easy axis in the ferromagnets with a minimal energy consumption. This study theoretically demonstrates a similar phenomenon of the N\'{e}el vector reversal via a short electrical pulse that can mediate perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the antiferromagnets. The analysis based on the dynamical equations as well as the micro-magnetic simulations reveals the important role of the inertial behavior in the antiferromagnets that facilitates the N\'{e}el vector to overcome the barrier between two free-energy minima of the bistable states along the easy axis. In contrast to the ferromagnets, this N\'{e}el vector reversal does not accompany angular moment transfer to the environment, leading to acceleration in the dynamical response by a few orders of magnitude. Further, a small switching energy requirement of a few attojoules illustrates an added advantage of the phenomenon in low-power spintronic applications.