Negative Domain Wall Resistance in Ferromagnets

R. P. van Gorkom; Arne Brataas; Gerrit E. W. Bauer

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.4401

Negative Domain Wall Resistance in Ferromagnets

R. P. van Gorkom, Arne Brataas, and Gerrit E. W. Bauer

Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 4401 – Published 22 November 1999

Abstract

The electrical resistance of a diffusive ferromagnet with magnetic domain walls is studied theoretically, taking into account the spatial dependence of the magnetization. The semiclassical domain wall resistance is found to be either negative or positive depending on the difference between the spin-dependent scattering lifetimes. The predictions can be tested experimentally by transport studies in doped ferromagnets.

Received 2 June 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.4401

Authors & Affiliations

R. P. van Gorkom^*, Arne Brataas^†, and Gerrit E. W. Bauer

Department of Applied Physics and Delft Institute of Microelectronics and Submicrontechnology, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

^*Electronic address: gorkom@dimes.tudelft.nl
^†Also at Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands.