Microscopic approach to the description of spin torques in two-dimensional Rashba ferromagnets and antiferromagnets

We review the most significant results obtained in the’framework of the microscopic approach to a systematic study of magnetic dynamics in two-dimensional ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials with a strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling. For model systems, we discuss the microscopic derivation of the Gilbert damping tensor, spin-orbit and spin-transfer torques, and symmetric and antisymmetric exchange interactions. It is shown that in both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic systems, the presence of a sufficiently strong spin-orbit coupling leads to an anisotropy of spin torques and Gilbert damping. We focus on an analysis of spin-orbit torques in a two-dimensional Rashba antiferromagnet. We also address the possibility of switching the antiferromagnetic order parameter via short current pulses in the plane of the sample.