34,418 research outputs found
Skyrmion-skyrmion and skyrmion-edge repulsions in skyrmion-based racetrack memory
Magnetic skyrmions are promising for building next-generation magnetic
memories and spintronic devices due to their stability, small size and the
extremely low currents needed to move them. In particular, skyrmion-based
racetrack memory is attractive for information technology, where skyrmions are
used to store information as data bits instead of traditional domain walls.
Here we numerically demonstrate the impacts of skyrmion-skyrmion and
skyrmion-edge repulsions on the feasibility of skyrmion-based racetrack memory.
The reliable and practicable spacing between consecutive skyrmionic bits on the
racetrack as well as the ability to adjust it are investigated. Clogging of
skyrmionic bits is found at the end of the racetrack, leading to the reduction
of skyrmion size. Further, we demonstrate an effective and simple method to
avoid the clogging of skyrmionic bits, which ensures the elimination of
skyrmionic bits beyond the reading element. Our results give guidance for the
design and development of future skyrmion-based racetrack memory.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Interface resistance of disordered magnetic multilayers
We study the effect of interface disorder on the spin-dependent interface
resistances of Co/Cu, Fe/Cr and Au/Ag multilayers using a newly developed
method for calculating transmission matrices from first-principles. The
efficient implementation using tight-binding linear-muffin-tin orbitals allows
us to model interface disorder using large lateral supercells whereby specular
and diffuse scattering are treated on an equal footing. Without introducing any
free parameters, quantitative agreement with experiment is obtained. We predict
that disorder {\it reduces} the majority-spin interface resistance of
Fe/Cr(100) multilayers by a factor 3.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR
Quantification of effects of climate variations and human activities on runoff by a monthly water balance model: A case study of the Chaobai River basin in northern China
The Chaobai River basin in northern China consists of two major tributaries, the Chao River and Bai River. Monthly observations of precipitation, streamfiow, and panevaporation data are available for 35 years (1961-1966 and 1973-2001). Using the annual time series of the observed streamfiow, one break point at 1979 is detected and is adopted to divide the data set into two study periods, the "before" and "after" periods marking the onset of significant anthropogenic alteration of the flow (reservoirs and silt retention dams, five times increase in population) and significant changes in land use (conversion to terraced fields versus sloping fields). The distributed time-variant gain model (DTVGM) was used to evaluate the water resources of the area. Furthermore, the Bayesian method used by Engeland et al. (2005) was used in this paper to evaluate two uncertainty sources (i.e., the model parameter and model structure) and for assessing the DTVGM's performance over the Chaobai River basin. Comparing the annual precipitation means over 13 years (1961-1966 and 1973-1979), the means of the second period (1980-2001) decreased by 5.4% and 4.9% in the Chao River and Bai River basins, respectively. However, the related annual runoff decreased by 40.3% and 52.8%, respectively, a much greater decline than exhibited by precipitation. Through the monthly model simulation and the fixing-changing method, it is determined that decreases in runoff between the two periods can be attributed to 35% (31%) from climate variations and 68% (70%) from human activities in the Chao River (Bai River). Thus, human impact exerts a dominant influence upon runoff decline in the Chaobai River basin compared to climate. This study enhances our understanding of the relative roles of climate variations and human activities on runoff. © 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.published_or_final_versio
Spin-injection through an Fe/InAs Interface
The spin-dependence of the interface resistance between ferromagnetic Fe and
InAs is calculated from first-principles for specular and disordered (001)
interfaces. Because of the symmetry mismatch in the minority-spin channel, the
specular interface acts as an efficient spin filter with a transmitted current
polarisation between 98 an 89%.
The resistance of a specular interface in the diffusive regime is comparable
to the resistance of a few microns of bulk InAs.
Symmetry-breaking arising from interface disorder reduces the spin asymmetry
substantially and we conclude that efficient spin injection from Fe into InAs
can only be realized using high quality epitaxial interfaces.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Localized Control of Curie Temperature in Perovskite Oxide Film by Capping-layer- induced Octahedral Distortion
With reduced dimensionality, it is often easier to modify the properties of
ultra-thin films than their bulk counterparts. Strain engineering, usually
achieved by choosing appropriate substrates, has been proven effective in
controlling the properties of perovskite oxide films. An emerging alternative
route for developing new multifunctional perovskite is by modification of the
oxygen octahedral structure. Here we report the control of structural oxygen
octahedral rotation in ultra-thin perovskite SrRuO3 films by the deposition of
a SrTiO3 capping layer, which can be lithographically patterned to achieve
local control. Using a scanning Sagnac magnetic microscope, we show increase in
the Curie temperature of SrRuO3 due to the suppression octahedral rotations
revealed by the synchrotron x-ray diffraction. This capping-layer-based
technique may open new possibilities for developing functional oxide materials.Comment: Main-text 5 pages, SI 6 pages. To appear in Physical Review Letter
Explosive events on sub-arcsecond scale in IRIS observations: a case study
We present study of a typical explosive event (EE) at sub-arcsecond scale
witnessed by strong non-Gaussian profiles with blue- and red-shifted emission
of up to 150 km/s seen in the transition-region Si IV 1402.8 \AA, and the
chromospheric Mg II k 2796.4 \AA\ and C II 1334.5 \AA\ observed by the
Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph at unprecedented spatial and spectral
resolution. For the first time a EE is found to be associated with very
small-scale (120 km wide) plasma ejection followed by retraction in the
chromosphere. These small-scale jets originate from a compact bright-point-like
structure of 1.5" size as seen in the IRIS 1330 \AA\ images. SDO/AIA and
SDO/HMI co-observations show that the EE lies in the footpoint of a complex
loop-like brightening system. The EE is detected in the higher temperature
channels of AIA 171 \AA, 193 \AA\ and 131 \AA\ suggesting that it reaches a
higher temperature of log T (K). Brightenings observed in the AIA
channels with durations 90--120 seconds are probably caused by the plasma
ejections seen in the chromosphere. The wings of the C II line behave in a
similar manner as the Si IV's indicating close formation temperatures, while
the Mg II k wings show additional Doppler-shifted emission. Magnetic
convergence or emergence followed by cancellation at a rate of
Mx s is associated with the EE region. The combined changes of the
locations and the flux of different magnetic patches suggest that magnetic
reconnection must have taken place. Our results challenge several theories put
forward in the past to explain non-Gaussian line profiles, i.e. EEs. Our case
study on its own, however, cannot reject these theories, thus further in-depth
studies on the phenomena producing EEs are required.Comment: 16 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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