This title appears in the Scientific Report :
2016
Please use the identifier:
http://hdl.handle.net/2128/22759 in citations.
Please use the identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01344 in citations.
Zero-Point Spin-Fluctuations of Single Adatoms
Zero-Point Spin-Fluctuations of Single Adatoms
Stabilizing the magnetic signal of single adatoms is a crucial step toward their successful usage in widespread technological applications such as high-density magnetic data storage devices. The quantum mechanical nature of these tiny objects, however, introduces intrinsic zero-point spin-fluctuatio...
Saved in:
Personal Name(s): | Azpiroz, Julen Ibanez (Corresponding author) |
---|---|
dos Santos Dias, Manuel / Blügel, Stefan / Lounis, Samir | |
Contributing Institute: |
JARA - HPC; JARA-HPC JARA-FIT; JARA-FIT Quanten-Theorie der Materialien; PGI-1 Quanten-Theorie der Materialien; IAS-1 |
Published in: | Nano letters, 16 (2016) 7, S. 4305 - 4311 |
Imprint: |
Washington, DC
ACS Publ.
2016
|
DOI: |
10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01344 |
PubMed ID: |
27248465 |
Document Type: |
Journal Article |
Research Program: |
Controlling Configuration-Based Phenomena Controlling Spin-Based Phenomena |
Link: |
Restricted Restricted OpenAccess OpenAccess |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Please use the identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01344 in citations.
Stabilizing the magnetic signal of single adatoms is a crucial step toward their successful usage in widespread technological applications such as high-density magnetic data storage devices. The quantum mechanical nature of these tiny objects, however, introduces intrinsic zero-point spin-fluctuations that tend to destabilize the local magnetic moment of interest by dwindling the magnetic anisotropy potential barrier even at absolute zero temperature. Here, we elucidate the origins and quantify the effect of the fundamental ingredients determining the magnitude of the fluctuations, namely, the (i) local magnetic moment, (ii) spin–orbit coupling, and (iii) electron–hole Stoner excitations. Based on a systematic first-principles study of 3d and 4d adatoms, we demonstrate that the transverse contribution of the fluctuations is comparable in size to the magnetic moment itself, leading to a remarkable ≳50% reduction of the magnetic anisotropy energy. Our analysis gives rise to a comprehensible diagram relating the fluctuation magnitude to characteristic features of adatoms, providing practical guidelines for designing magnetically stable nanomagnets with minimal quantum fluctuations. |