Efficient Ab Initio Multiplet Calculations for Magnetic Adatoms on MgO

FEBRUARY, 2020

Christoph Wolf, Fernando Delgado, José Reina, Nicolás Lorente
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 124, 11, 2318-2327 (2020)

Description


We developed an efficient ab initio method that allows predictive calculations for spin transitions of atoms on surfaces. Using out method we can reproduce previously studied spectra for iron and cobalt and make predictions for manganese, were transitions have not yet been experimentally observed.

Abstract


Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy, and more recently, single-atom electron spin resonance, have allowed the direct observation of electron dynamics at the atomic limit. The interpretation of data is strongly dependent on model Hamiltonians. However, fitting effective spin Hamiltonians to experimental data lacks the ability to explore a vast number of potential systems of interest. By using plane-wave density functional theory as starting point, we build a multiplet Hamiltonian making use of maximally localized Wannier functions. The Hamiltonian contains spin–orbit and electron–electron interactions needed to obtain the relevant spin dynamics. The resulting reduced Hamiltonian is solved by exact diagonalization. We compare three prototypical cases of 3d transition metals Mn (total spin S = 5/2), Fe (S = 2), and Co (S = 3/2) on MgO with experimental data and find that our calculations can accurately predict the spin orientation and anisotropy of the magnetic adatom. Our method does not rely on experimental input and allows us to explore and predict the fundamental magnetic properties of adatoms on surfaces.
 
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