%0 Journal Article
%A Enkovaara, J.
%A Wortmann, D.
%A Blügel, S.
%T Spin-polarized tunneling between an antiferromagnet and a ferromagnet: First-principles calculations and transport theory
%J Physical review / B
%V 76
%N 5
%@ 1098-0121
%C College Park, Md.
%I APS
%M PreJuSER-57804
%P 054437
%D 2007
%Z Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
%X By combining first-principles calculations with transport theory we investigate the origin of the magnetoresistance of a magnetic tunnel junction consisting of a ferromagnetic and an antiferromagnetic lead. The (001) oriented Fe/vacuum/Cr planar junction serves as model junction. Even though the conduction electrons of antiferromagnetic Cr are spin-degenerate, it is possible to observe magnetoresistance due to two mechanisms: Firstly, the surface magnetism of Cr creates a spin-dependent potential barrier, and secondly, exchange-split surface states and resonances result in a tunneling conductance which depends on the relative orientation of the Fe and Cr magnetizations. Spin-dependent tunneling between a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet happens frequently in tunneling setups such as in spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy or magnetic tunnel junctions for magnetic random access memory.
%K J (WoSType)
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000249155100108
%R 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.054437
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/57804