Abstract
We have developed a drift-diffusion equation of spin transport in collinear bipartite metallic antiferromagnets. Starting from a model tight-binding Hamiltonian, we obtain the quantum kinetic equation within Keldysh formalism and expand it to the lowest order in spatial gradient using Wigner expansion method. In the diffusive limit, these equations track the spatio-temporal evolution of the spin accumulations and spin currents on each sublattice of the antiferromagnet. We use these equations to address the nature of the spin transfer torque in (i) a spin-valve composed of a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet, (ii) a metallic bilayer consisting of an antiferromagnet adjacent to a heavy metal possessing spin Hall effect, and in (iii) a single antiferromagnet possessing spin Hall effect. We show that the latter can experience a self-torque thanks to the non-vanishing spin Hall effect in the antiferromagnet.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 104002 |
Journal | Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2017 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): OSR- 2015-CRG4-2626
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) through the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) (Grant Number OSR- 2015-CRG4-2626). The author acknowledges inspiring discussions with T Jungwirth, J Sinova, J Zelezny, H Gomonay and H Saidaoui.