Non-adiabatic spin torque investigated using thermally activated magnetic domain wall dynamics

Using transmission electron microscopy, we investigate the thermally activated motion of domain walls (DWs) between two positions in permalloy (Ni80Fe20) nanowires at room temperature. We show that this purely thermal motion is well described by an Arrhenius law, allowing for a description of the DW as a quasi-particle in a 1D potential landscape. By injecting small currents, the potential is modified, allowing for the determination of the non-adiabatic spin torque: the non-adiabatic coefficient is 0.010 +/- 0.004 for a transverse DW and 0.073 +/- 0.026 for a vortex DW. The larger value is attributed to the higher magnetization gradients present

Domain-wall depinning assisted by pure spin currents

We study the depinning of domain walls by pure diffusive spin currents in a nonlocal spin valve structure based on two ferromagnetic permalloy elements with copper as the nonmagnetic spin conduit. The injected spin current is absorbed by the second permalloy structure with a domain wall and from the dependence of the wall depinning field on the spin current density we find an efficiency of 6*10^{-14}T/(A/m^2), which is more than an order of magnitude larger than for conventional current induced domain wall motion. Theoretically we reproduce this high efficiency, which arises from the surface torques exerted by the absorbed spin current that lead to efficient depinning.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Relationship between nonadiabaticity and damping in permalloy studied by current induced spin structure transformations

By direct imaging we determine spin structure changes in Permalloy wires and disks due to spin transfer torque as well as the critical current densities for different domain wall types. Periodic domain wall transformations from transverse to vortex walls and vice versa are observed, and the transformation mechanism occurs by vortex core displacement perpendicular to the wire. The results imply that the nonadiabaticity parameter β does not equal the damping α, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions. The vortex core motion perpendicular to the current is further studied in disks revealing that the displacement in opposite directions can be attributed to different polarities of the vortex core

Magnetoresistance measurement of tailored Permalloy nanocontacts

We study the evolution of the magnetoresistance (MR) in Permalloy nanocontacts prepared by controlled low-temperature UHV electromigration in nanoring segment structures with constrictions. The ring geometry allows for the controlled and reproducible positioning of a domain wall in the nanocontacts. We observe three different resistance levels, corresponding to distinct domain-wall positions. A change in the sign of the MR difference, between a domain wall at the constriction and a domain wall next to the constriction, occurs with decreasing constriction width. This is in line with our micromagnetic simulations, where the MR is calculated based on the anisotropic MR (AMR) effect

Epitaxial Growth of Fe on GaN(0001): Strucural and Magnetic Properties

We report results on growth studies of Fe on GaN, in particular with respect to structural and magnetic properties. The growth of GaN has been carried out by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on Si(111) and Al2O3 substrates, respectively. Fe depositions of different thicknesses were performed in ultra high vacuum (UHV) at room temperature using an electron-beam evaporation set-up. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the iron films are crystalline and indications of a (110) bee orientation of the film are observed. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) epitaxial islands of Fe on the GaN(0001) surface, on a scale of 500 x 500 nm(2), have been observed. The experimentally determined magnetic hysteresis loops, with the magnetic field applied parallel to the sample surface, show a coercive field that decreases as the temperature increases; at 300 K and 50 K we measure a coercive field of 12 G and 36 G, respectively. (c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Quantitative determination of vortex core dimensions in head-to-head domain walls using off-axis electron holography

In this paper, we present a complete three-dimensional characterization of vortex core spin structures, which is important for future magnetic data storage based on vortex cores in disks and in wires. Using electron holography to examine vortices in patterned Permalloy devices we have quantitatively measured the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization of a vortex core. Observed core widths and integrated phase shifts agree well with those derived from micromagnetic simulations

Direct imaging of current induced magnetic vortex gyration in an asymmetric potential well

Employing time-resolved x-ray microscopy, we investigate the dynamics of a pinned magnetic vortex domain wall in a magnetic nanowire. The gyrotropic motion of the vortex core is imaged in response to an exciting ac current. The elliptical vortex core trajectory at resonance reveals asymmetries in the local potential well that are correlated with the pinning geometry. Using the analytical model of a two-dimensional harmonic oscillator, we determine the resonance frequency of the vortex core gyration and, from the eccentricity of the vortex core trajectory at resonance, we can deduce the stiffness of the local potential well

Quantitative determination of vortex core dimensions in head-to-head domain walls using off-axis electron holography

In this paper, we present a complete three-dimensional characterization of vortex core spin structures, which is important for future magnetic data storage based on vortex cores in disks and in wires. Using electron holography to examine vortices in patterned Permalloy devices we have quantitatively measured the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization of a vortex core. Observed core widths and integrated phase shifts agree well with those derived from micromagnetic simulations