The bias driven perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is a magneto-electric effect that can realize 90∘ magnetization rotation and even 180 flip along the easy axis in the ferromagnets with a minimal energy consumption. This study theoretically demonstrates a similar phenomenon of the N\'{e}el vector reversal via a short electrical pulse that can mediate perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the antiferromagnets. The analysis based on the dynamical equations as well as the micro-magnetic simulations reveals the important role of the inertial behavior in the antiferromagnets that facilitates the N\'{e}el vector to overcome the barrier between two free-energy minima of the bistable states along the easy axis. In contrast to the ferromagnets, this N\'{e}el vector reversal does not accompany angular moment transfer to the environment, leading to acceleration in the dynamical response by a few orders of magnitude. Further, a small switching energy requirement of a few attojoules illustrates an added advantage of the phenomenon in low-power spintronic applications.
@article{arxiv.1609.03454,
title = {Currentless reversal of N\'eel vector in antiferromagnets},
author = {Yuriy G. Semenov and Xi-Lai Li and Ki Wook Kim},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.03454},
year = {2017}
}