Title
Energetics and electronic structure of native point defects in antiferromagnetic CrN
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-19-2018
Abstract
© 2018 American Physical Society. We present a detailed analysis of the role of native point defects in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases of bulk chromium nitride (CrN). We perform first-principles calculations by using the local spin-density approximation, including local interaction effects (LSDA+U), to study the two lowest energy AFM models expected to describe the low-temperature phase of the material. We study the formation energies, lattice deformations, and electronic and magnetic structure introduced by native point defects. We find that, as expected, nitrogen vacancies are the most likely defect present in the material at low temperatures. Nitrogen vacancies present different charged states in the cubic AFM model, exhibiting two transition energies, which could be measured by thermometry experiments and could help identify the AFM structure in a sample. These vacancies also result in partial spin polarization of the induced impurity band, which would have interesting consequences in experiments. Other point defects have also signature electronic and magnetic structure that could be identified in scanning probe experiments.
Recommended Citation
Rojas, Tomas and Ulloa, Sergio E., "Energetics and electronic structure of native point defects in antiferromagnetic CrN" (2018). Physics & Astronomy Open Access Publications. 61.
https://ohioopen.library.ohio.edu/physics-astronomy-oapub/61