Magnetization switching in a Heisenberg model for small ferromagnetic particles

D. Hinzke and U. Nowak
Phys. Rev. B 58, 265 – Published 1 July 1998
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Abstract

We investigate the thermally activated magnetization switching of small ferromagnetic particles driven by an external magnetic field. For low uniaxial anisotropy the spins can be expected to rotate coherently, while for sufficient large anisotropy they should behave Ising-like, i.e., the switching should then be due to nucleation. We study this crossover from coherent rotation to nucleation for a classical three-dimensional Heisenberg model with finite anisotropy. The crossover is influenced by the size of the particle, the strength of the driving magnetic field, and the anisotropy. We discuss the relevant energy barriers which have to be overcome during the switching, and find theoretical arguments which yield the energetically favorable reversal mechanisms for given values of the quantities above. The results are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations of Heisenberg and Ising models.

  • Received 13 January 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.58.265

©1998 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. Hinzke and U. Nowak*

  • Theoretische Tieftemperaturphysik, Gerhard-Mercator-Universität-Duisburg, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany

  • *Electronic address: uli@thp.uni-duisburg.de

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Vol. 58, Iss. 1 — 1 July 1998

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