Investigation of magnetic anisotropy in antiferromagnetic manganese nitrides

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Meinert
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 389563477

As of the current state-of-the-art, spinelectronic devices (such as hard disk drive read heads or novel nonvolatile memory) make use of antiferromagnetic materials that contain expensive precious metals to some extent. The antiferromagnetic materials MnN and Mn3N2 are a promising alternative, as we could show in first experiments on the exchange bias with these materials. Furthermore, calculations of the magnetic anisotropy show that the magnetic easy axis is rotated by applying minor strain to the lattice of MnN during thin film growth. This makes MnN a unique model system for the investigation of the relation between easy axis orientation and exchange bias. The goal of the present project is a detailed understanding of the magnetic anisotropy in MnN and its relation with the crystallographic prop-erties and the observed exchange bias. One part of the project aims to investigate Mn3N2, for which a large magnetic anisotropy was predicted. This would allow to use Mn3N2 as a cheap and environment-friendly replacement for conventional antiferromagnetic materials. Epitaxial thin films of MnN and Mn3N2 will be investigated to obtain a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that dominate the formation of exchange bias in these systems.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants