Theory of spin torques and giant magnetoresistance in antiferromagnetic metals

Abstract

Spintronics in ferromagnetic metals is built on a complementary set of phenomena in which magnetic configurations influence transport coefficients and transport currents alter magnetic configurations. Here, we propose that corresponding effects occur in circuits containing antiferromagnetic metals. The critical current for order parameter orientation switching can be smaller in the antiferromagnetic case because of the absence of shape anisotropy and because spin torques can act through the entire volume of an antiferromagnet. We discuss possible applications of antiferromagnetic metal spintronics.