Abstract
Direct observation of current-induced propagation of purely transverse magnetic domain walls with spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy is reported in nanowires. After propagation, the domain walls keep their transverse nature but switch polarity in some cases. For uniform wires, the effect is random and illustrates domain-wall propagation above the Walker threshold. In the case of wires, the transverse magnetization component in the wall is entirely determined by the polarity of the current pulse, an effect that is not reconciled by present theories even when taking into account the nonuniform Oersted field generated by the current.
- Received 8 May 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.107202
©2008 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Flipping a domain wall switch
Published 2 September 2008
Most applications based on magnetism are incompatible with domain walls, which interrupt a homogeneous magnetization. Scientists are turning this view around as they discover new ways to use an electric current to manipulate and store information in nanoscale domain walls.
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