Simulation Studies of Nanomagnet-Based Architecture

We report a simulation study on interacting ensembles of Co nanomagnets that can perform basic logic operations and propagate logic signals, where the state variable is the magnetization direction. Dipole field coupling between individual nanomagnets drives the logic functionality of the ensemble and coordinated arrangements of the nanomagnets allow for the logic signal to propagate in a predictable way. Problems with the integrity of the logic signal arising from instabilities in the constituent magnetizations are solved by introducing a biaxial anisotropy term to the Gibbs magnetic free energy of each nanomagnet. The enhanced stability allows for more complex components of a logic architecture capable of random combinatorial logic, including horizontal wires, vertical wires, junctions, fanout nodes, and a novel universal logic gate. Our simulations define the focus of scaling trends in nanomagnet-based logic and provide estimates of the energy dissipation and time per nanomagnet reversal

Dynamics of ferromagnetic nanomagnets with vortex or single-domain configuration

We study the dynamics of flat circular permalloy nanomagnets for 1.) magnetic vortex and 2.) single-domain configurations, using micromagnetic simulation. Dynamical studies for isolated vortex structures show that both the vorticity and the central polarity of the out-of-plane component can be switched fast (50-100 ps) and independently. Micromagnetic simulations of the switching process in thin cylindrical Permalloy (Py) nanoparticles with an initial stable single-domain state show nearly homogeneous single-domain behaviour followed by excitation of spin waves.Comment: 2 pages with 3 eps-figures, --> ICM2003 Rome 28.7.-1.8.03, --> JMM

Magnetic Properties and Interfacial Anisotropies of Pt/Co/AlO<inf>x</inf> Perpendicularly Magnetized Thin Films

The thin films of Pt/Co/AlOx, showing perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, were grown by magnetron sputtering with AlOx formed by the oxidation of thin Al layers using an oxygen atom source. Films were studied as a function of Pt thickness and Al oxidation, and films that showed full remanence and sharp switching coercivity were achieved. In order to prevent further oxidation of the interface in ambient conditions, we use a double Al growth and oxidation process. The magnetooptical Kerr effect and vibrating sample magnetometry were used to analyze these films. We find an effective perpendicular anisotropy of 2 × 106 erg/cm3, with the majority of the perpendicular anisotropy coming from the Pt/Co interface. From the sweep rate dependence on the coercivity, we are able to extract an activation volume of 4.3-0.5 × 10-18cm3, similar to other Co-based perpendicular systems.This research is funded by the European Community under the Seventh Framework Program ERC Contract No. 247368: 3SPIN. AB acknowledges DTA funding from the EPSRC

Coupling and induced depinning of magnetic domain walls in adjacent spin valve nanotracks

The magnetostatic interaction between magnetic domain walls (DWs) in adjacent nanotracks has been shown to produce strong inter-DW coupling and mutual pinning. In this paper, we have used electrical measurements of adjacent spin-valve nanotracks to follow the positions of interacting DWs. We show that the magnetostatic interaction between DWs causes not only mutual pinning, as observed till now, but that a travelling DW can also induce the depinning of DWs in near-by tracks. These effects may have great implications for some proposed high density magnetic devices (e.g. racetrack memory, DW logic circuits, or DW-based MRAM).Comment: The following article has been accepted by the Journal of Applied Physic

Two-dimensional control of field-driven magnetic bubble movement using Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions

The field-induced asymmetric growth of magnetic bubble domains in Pt/Co/Pt out-of-plane magnetized films with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions (DMI) is used to control the lateral displacement of bubbles. We demonstrate experimentally that we can laterally translate bubbles away from their nucleation site by applying a series of alternating 3-dimensional field pulses with a controlled relative sign between the out-of-plane and in-plane components. Using magneto optical Kerr effect imaging, the domain wall velocity as a function of applied field strength was measured from which the magnitude of the DMI field was estimated.This work was supported by the European Community under the Seventh Framework Programme '3SPIN' (ERC contract 247368) and by EMRP JRP EXL04 SpinCal. The EMRP is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the EU.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP at http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/106/2/10.1063/1.4905600

Interacting circular nanomagnets

Regular 2D rectangular lattices of permalloy nanoparticles (40 nm in diameter) were prepared by the method of the electron lithography. The magnetization curves were studied by Hall magnetometry with the compensation technique for different external field orientations at 4.2K and 77K. The shape of hysteresis curves indicates that there is magnetostatic interaction between the particles. The main peculiarity is the existence of remanent magnetization perpendicular to easy plain. By numerical simulation it is shown, that the character of the magnetization reversal is a result of the interplay of the interparticle interaction and the magnetization distribution within the particles (vortex or uniform).Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Evolution and stability of a magnetic vortex in small cylindrical ferromagnetic particle under applied field

The energy of a displaced magnetic vortex in a cylindrical particle made of isotropic ferromagnetic material (magnetic dot) is calculated taking into account the magnetic dipolar and the exchange interactions. Under the simplifying assumption of small dot thickness the closed-form expressions for the dot energy is written in a non-perturbative way as a function of the coordinate of the vortex center. Then, the process of losing the stability of the vortex under the influence of the externally applied magnetic field is considered. The field destabilizing the vortex as well as the field when the vortex energy is equal to the energy of a uniformly magnetized state are calculated and presented as a function of dot geometry. The results (containing no adjustable parameters) are compared to the recent experiment and are in good agreement.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTe

Separation of the first- and second-order contributions in magneto-optic Kerr effect magnetometry of epitaxial FeMn/NiFe bilayers

The influence of second-order magneto-optic effects on Kerr effect magnetometry of epitaxial exchange coupled FeMn/NiFe-bilayers is investigated. A procedure for separation of the first- and second-order contributions is presented. The full angular dependence of both contributions during the magnetization reversal is extracted from the experimental data and presented using gray scaled magnetization reversal diagrams. The theoretical description of the investigated system is based on an extended Stoner-Wohlfarth model, which includes an induced unidirectional and fourfold anisotropy in the ferromagnet, caused by the coupling to the antiferromagnet. The agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical model for both the first- and second-order contributions are good, although a coherent reversal of the magnetization is assumed in the model.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Appl. Phy

Near-field interaction between domain walls in adjacent Permalloy nanowires

The magnetostatic interaction between two oppositely charged transverse domain walls (DWs)in adjacent Permalloy nanowires is experimentally demonstrated. The dependence of the pinning strength on wire separation is investigated for distances between 13 and 125 nm, and depinning fields up to 93 Oe are measured. The results can be described fully by considering the interaction between the full complex distribution of magnetic charge within rigid, isolated DWs. This suggests the DW internal structure is not appreciably disturbed by the pinning potential, and that they remain rigid although the pinning strength is significant. This work demonstrates the possibility of non-contact DW trapping without DW perturbation and full continuous flexibility of the pinning potential type and strength. The consequence of the interaction on DW based data storage schemes is evaluated.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 page supplimentary material (supporting.ps

String Method for the Study of Rare Events

We present a new and efficient method for computing the transition pathways, free energy barriers, and transition rates in complex systems with relatively smooth energy landscapes. The method proceeds by evolving strings, i.e. smooth curves with intrinsic parametrization whose dynamics takes them to the most probable transition path between two metastable regions in the configuration space. Free energy barriers and transition rates can then be determined by standard umbrella sampling technique around the string. Applications to Lennard-Jones cluster rearrangement and thermally induced switching of a magnetic film are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure