(07C109) The thickness, electric field, and strain effects on the magnetic anisotropy of FeCo/MgO(001) thin films: A first principles study

摘要

The magnetic anisotropy of the FeCo/MgO(001) thin films with the effects of thickness, the electric field, and the strain of the in-plane lattice constant were investigated by first-principles calculations. The thickness dependence of the magnetic anisotropy of FeCo ultrathin films in the range of one to four monolayers was explored, and the films with one, three, and four FeCo monolayers preferred the in-plane easy axis of magnetization, while the film with two FeCo monolayers occupied the perpendicular anisotropy. In the presence of an electric field, the magnetic anisotropy energies for all four films could be enhanced; moreover, the transition of the easy axis of magnetization from in-plane to out-of-plane also could be obtained, and the transition electric field was related with their thickness. It could be found that the variation of the in-plane lattice constant resulted in the switching from the perpendicular to in-plane anisotropy for the film with two FeCo monolayers.