title: Spin-transfer torques in antiferromagnetic metals from first principles.
abstract: In spite of the absence of a macroscopic magnetic moment, an antiferromagnet is spin-polarized on an atomic scale. The electric current passing through a conducting antiferromagnet is polarized as well, leading to spin-transfer torques when the order parameter is textured, such as in antiferromagnetic noncollinear spin valves and domain walls. We report a first principles study on the electronic transport properties of antiferromagnetic systems. The current-induced spin torques acting on the magnetic moments are comparable with those in conventional ferromagnetic materials, leading to measurable angular resistances and current-induced magnetization dynamics. In contrast to ferromagnets, spin torques in antiferromagnets are very nonlocal. The torques acting far away from the center of an antiferromagnetic domain wall should facilitate current-induced domain wall motion.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Surface Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 603, Beijing 100080, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xia