Functional antiferromagnets for potential applications on high-density storage and high frequency

Abstract

Antiferromagnets have drawn increasing attention in the last decade, for their advantages such as no stray field and ultrafast spin dynamics, giving rise to potential applications on high-density storage and high frequency. We summarize the recent progress on the control of antiferromagnetic moments by electrical methods, including both electric current and electric field, which are important steps for the integration of antiferromagnets toward high-density data storage. Several methods for distinguishing antiferromagnetic moments switching and artifacts are mentioned here. Then, we focus on the explorations of antiferromagnetic spin pumping and ultrafast spin dynamics. Such investigations would pave the way for applications with high frequency. Besides, the magnon transport in antiferromagnets is briefly introduced, which might be a basis of the antiferromagnetic logic. We conclude with a discussion of challenges and future prospects in antiferromagnetic spintronics, which would stimulate in-depth studies and advance practical applications.