Modulation of Voltage-Controlled Magnetic Anisotropy through Interface Engineering in FeCo/MgO Heterostructures

Recent experiments have reported a large modulation of voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy in Cr/Fe/MgO interfaces which arises from the presence of Cr atoms in the proximity of the Fe/MgO interface. Using ab initio density-functional theory calculations we have investigated the modulation of magnetic anisotropy in FeCo/MgO interfaces through controlled doping of Cr into the FeCo-MgO interface. The calculations reveal that the antiferromagnetic ordering induced by Cr decreases the magnetic anisotropy energy with increasing Cr concentration at the interface. We will present results of the effect of strain and electric field on the atom-resolved spin-orbit-coupling energies and k-resolved magnetic anisotropy to shed light on the underlying mechanism of the Cr alloying.