The origin of the metamagnetic antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition of FeRh is a subject of debate. Competing explanations invoke magnetovolume effects or a purely thermodynamic transition within the spin system. It is experimentally difficult to observe the changes in the magnetic system and the lattice simultaneously, leading to conflicting evidence over which mechanism causes the phase transition. A noncollinear electronic structure study by Mryasov [Phase Transitions 78, 197 (2005)] showed that nonlinear behavior of the Rh moment leads to higher-order exchange terms in FeRh. Using atomistic spin dynamics, we show that the phase transition can occur due to the competition between bilinear and the higher-order four spin exchange terms in an effective spin Hamiltonian. The phase transition we see is of first order and shows thermal hysteresis in agreement with experimental observations. Simulating subpicosecond laser heating, we show an agreement with pump-probe experiments with a ferromagnetic response on a picosecond time scale.

• Received 13 May 2014
• Revised 26 May 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.094402