Giant tunnel magnetoresistance with a single magnetic phase-transition electrode

TL;DR

This study uses first-principles calculations to demonstrate giant tunnel magnetoresistance in FeRh/MgO/Cu junctions driven by magnetic phase transitions, promising for energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Contribution

It reveals the potential of FeRh-based tunnel junctions with phase transition-induced TMR, highlighting interface resonant states and spin polarization effects as key mechanisms.

Findings

MPT-TMR reaches hundreds of percent during phase change

Interface resonant states are crucial for high TMR

FeRh/MgO interface acts as an efficient spin-injector

Abstract

Magnetic phase transition tunnel magnetoresistance (MPT-TMR) effect with a single magnetic electrode has been investigated by first-principles calculations. The calculations show that the MPT-TMR of FeRh/MgO/Cu tunnel junction can be as high as hundreds of percent when the magnetic structure of FeRh changes from G-type antiferromagnetic (GAFM) to ferromagnetic order. This new type of MPT-TMR may be superior to the tunnel anisotropic magnetoresistance because of its huge magneto-resistance effect and similar structural simplicity. The main mechanism for the giant MPT-TMR can be attributed to the formation of interface resonant states at GAFM-FeRh/MgO interface. A direct FeRh/MgO interface is found to be necessary for achieving high MPT-TMR experimentally. Moreover, we find the FeRh/MgO interface with FeRh in ferromagnetic phase has nearly full spin-polarization due to the negligible majority transmission and significantly different Fermi surface of two spin channels. Thus, it may act as a highly efficient and tunable spin-injector. In addition, electric field driven MPT of FeRh-based hetero-magnetic nanostructures can be utilized to design various energy efficient tunnel junction structures and the corresponding lower power consumption devices. Our results will stimulate further experimental investigations of MPT-TMR and other fascinating phenomenon of FeRh-based tunnel junctions that may be promising in antiferromagnetic spintronics.