Magnetocaloritronic nanomachines

Abstract

We introduce and study a magnetocaloritronic circuit element based on a domain wall that can move under applied voltage, magnetic field and temperature gradient. We draw analogies between the Carnot machines and possible devices employing such circuit element. We further point out the parallels between the operational principles of thermoelectric and magnetocaloritronic cooling and power generation and also introduce a magnetocaloritronic figure of merit. Even though the magnetocaloritronic figure of merit turns out to be very small for transition-metal based magnets, we speculate that larger numbers may be expected in ferromagnetic insulators.Comment: Submitted to "Special issue: Caloritronics" in Solid State Communication