Spin transfer torques and spin-dependent transport in a metallic F/AF/N tunneling junction

山本 慧; Gomonay, O.*; Sinova, J.*; Schwiete, G.*

Physical Review B, 98(1), p.014406_1 - 014406_24, 2018/07

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.014406

We study spin-dependent electron transport through a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic-normal metal tunneling junction, in the absence of spin-orbit coupling. We derive microscopic formulas for various types of spin torque acting on the antiferromagnet as well as for charge and spin currents flowing through the junction. The obtained results are applicable in the limit of slow magnetization dynamics. We identify a parameter regime in which an unconventional damping-like torque can become comparable in magnitude to the conventional Slonczewski's torque familiar from ferromagnets. Moreover, we show that the antiferromagnetic sublattice structure opens up a channel of electron transport which does not have a ferromagnetic analog and that this mechanism leads to a pronounced field-like torque. Both charge conductance and spin current transmission through the junction depend on the relative orientation of the ferromagnetic and the antiferromagnetic order parameters.