Ferrimagnetism and antiferromagnetism in half-metallic Heusler alloys

Half-metallic Heusler alloys are among the most promising materials for future applications in spintronic devices. Although most Heusler alloys are ferromagnets, ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic (also called fully-compensated ferrimagnetic) alloys would be more desirable for applications due to the lower external fields. Ferrimagnetism can be either found in perfect Heusler compounds or achieved through the creation of defects in ferromagnetic Heusler alloys.Comment: To be considered for the proceedings of the International Conference on Nanoscale Magnetism (ICNM 07

Doping and disorder in the Co2_2MnAl and Co2_2MnGa half-metallic Heusler alloys

We expand our study on the full-Heusler compounds [I. Galanakis \textit{et al.}, Appl. Phys. Lett. \textbf{89}, 042502 (2006)] to cover also the case of doping and disorder in the case of Co$_2$MnAl and Co$_2$MnGa half-metallic Heusler alloys. These alloys present a region of very small minority density of states instead of a real gap. Electronic structure calculations reveal that doping with Fe and Cr in the case of Co$_2$MnAl retains the half-metallicity contrary to the Co$_2$MnGa compound. Cr impurities present an unusual behavior and the spin moment of the Cr impurity scales almost linearly with the concentration of Cr atoms contrary to the Co$_2$MnZ (Z= Si, Ge, Sn) where it was almost constant. Half-metallicity is no more preserved for both Co$_2$MnAl and Co$_2$MnGa alloys when disorder occurs and there is either excess of Mn or $sp$ atoms

Ab-initio design of half-metallic fully-compensated ferrimagnets: the case of Cr2_2MnZ (Z= P, As, Sb, Bi) compounds

Electronic structure calculations from first-principles are employed to design some new half-metallic fully-compensated ferrimagnets (or as they are widely known half-metallic antiferromagnets) susceptible of finding applications in spintronics. Cr$_2$MnZ (Z= P, As, Sb, Bi) compounds have 24 valence electrons per unit cell and calculations show that their total spin moment is approximately zero for a wide range of lattice constants in agreement with the Slater-Pauling behavior for ideal half-metals. Simultaneously, the spin magnetic moments of Cr and Mn atoms are antiparallel and the compounds are ferrimagnets. Mean-field approximation is employed to estimate their Curie temperature, which exceeds room temperature for the alloy with Sb. Our findings suggest that Cr$_2$MnSb is the compound of choice for further experimental investigations. Contrary to the alloys mentioned above half-metallic antiferromagnetism is unstable in the case of the Cr$_2$FeZ (Z= Si, Ge, Sn) alloys

Defects-driven appearance of half-metallic ferrimagnetism in Co-Mn--based Heusler alloys

Half-metallic ferromagnetic full-Heusler alloys containing Co and Mn, having the formula Co$_2$MnZ where Z a sp element, are among the most studied Heusler alloys due to their stable ferromagnetism and the high Curie temperatures which they present. Using state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations we show that when Mn atoms migrate to sites occupied in the perfect alloys by Co, these Mn atoms have spin moments antiparallel to the other transition metal atoms. The ferrimagnetic compounds, which result from this procedure, keep the half-metallic character of the parent compounds and the large exchange-splitting of the Mn impurities atoms only marginally affects the width of the gap in the minority-spin band. The case of [Co$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$]$_2$MnSi is of particular interest since Mn$_3$Si is known to crystallize in the Heusler $L2_1$ lattice structure of Co$_2$MnZ compounds. Robust half-metallic ferrimagnets are highly desirable for realistic applications since they lead to smaller energy losses due to the lower external magnetic fields created with respect to their ferromagnetic counterparts

Effect of doping and disorder on the half-metallicity of full Heusler alloy

Heusler alloys containing Co and Mn are amongst the most heavily studied half-metallic ferromagnets for future applications in spintronics. Using state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations, we investigate the effect of doping and disorder on their electronic and magnetic properties. Small degrees of doping by substituting Fe or Cr for Mn scarcely affect the half-metallicity. A similar effect is also achieved by mixing the sublattices occupied by the Mn and sp atoms. Thus the half-metallicity is a robust property of these alloys

Defects in CrAs and related compounds: a route to half-metallic ferrimagnetism

Half-metallic ferrimagnetism is crucial for spintronic applications with respect to ferromagnets due to the lower stray fields created by these materials. Studying the effect of defects in CrAs and related transition-metal chalcogenides and pnictides crystallizing in the zinc-blende structure, we reveal that the excess of the transition-metal atoms leads to half-metallic ferrimagnetism. The surplus of these atoms are antiferromagnetically coupled to the transition-metal atoms sitting at the perfect lattice sites. The needed condition to achieve half-metallic ferrimagnetism is to prevent the migration of the $sp$ atoms to other sites and the atomic swaps

Influence of mixing the low-valent transition metal atoms (Y,Y∗^*=Cr,Mn,Fe) on the properties of the quaternary Co2_2[Y1−x_{1-x}Yx∗^*_x]Z (Z=Al,Ga,Si,Ge,Sn) Heusler compounds

We complement our study on the doping and disorder in Co$_2$MnZ compounds [I. Galanakis \textit{et al.}, Appl. Phys. Lett. \textbf{89}, 042502 (2006) and K. \"Ozdo\~gan \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. B \textbf{74}, (2006)] to cover also the quaterarny Co$_2$[Y$_{1-x}$Y$^*_x$]Z compounds with the lower-valent transition metals Y,Y$^*$ being Cr, Mn or Fe and the sp atom Z being one of Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sn. This study gives a global overview of the magnetic and electronic properties of these compounds since we vary both Y and Z elements. Our results suggest that for realistic applications the most appropriate compounds are the ones belonging to the families Co$_2$[Mn$_{1-x}$Cr$_x$]Z with $x>0.5$ irrespectively of the nature of the $sp$ atoms since they combine high values of majority DOS at the Fermi level due to the presence of Cr, and half-metallicity with large band-gaps. On the other hand the presence of Fe lowers considerably the majority density of states at the Fermi level and when combined with an element belonging to the Si-column, it even can destroy half-metallicity

A cellular mechanism underlying enhanced capability for complex olfactory discrimination learning

The biological mechanisms underlying complex forms of learning requiring the understanding of rules based on previous experience are not yet known. Previous studies have raised the intriguing possibility that improvement in complex learning tasks requires the long-term modulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability, induced by reducing the conductance of the slow calcium-dependent potassium current (sI(AHP)) simultaneously in most neurons in the relevant neuronal networks in several key brain areas. Such sIAHP reduction is expressed in attenuation of the postburst afterhyperpolarization (AHP) potential, and thus in enhanced repetitive action potential firing. Using complex olfactory discrimination (OD) learning as a model for complex learning, we show that brief activation of the GluK2 subtype glutamate receptor results in long-lasting enhancement of neuronal excitability in neurons from controls, but not from trained rats. Such an effect can be obtained by a brief tetanic synaptic stimulation or by direct application of kainate, both of which reduce the postburst AHP in pyramidal neurons. Induction of long-lasting enhancement of neuronal excitability is mediated via a metabotropic process that requires PKC and ERK activation. Intrinsic neuronal excitability cannot be modulated by synaptic activation in neurons from GluK2 knock-out mice. Accordingly, these mice are incapable of learning the complex OD task. Moreover, viral-induced overexpression of Gluk2 in piriform cortex pyramidal neurons results in remarkable enhancement of complex OD learning. Thus, signaling via kainate receptors has a central functional role in higher cognitive abilities