Magneto-Mechanical Effects in an Atomistic Spin Model

A phenomenological model of two Co adatoms on a Cu(100) substrate was developed using a hybrid approach with “magneto-displacement” effects taken into account. The phenomenological model used parameters obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The coupled Landau-Lifshitz (LL) equation and Newton’s equation of motion governing magnetic and mechanical degrees of freedom provide the foundation of the model. The modeled to several key results. A mechanism for ferromagnetic (FM)-to-antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition induced by displacement of the adatoms was demonstrated. Mechanical tunability of magnetic resonant frequencies was shown. Displacement-assisted in-plane (IP)-to-out-of-plane (OOP) switching was demonstrated. In addition, the model demonstrates that mechanical displacement can induce an AFM IP-to-FM OOP transition, facilitated by a reduced external magnetic field.