Positive domain wall resistance in atomic-sized constrictions

The magnetoresistance of a domain wall (DWR) is measured in Permalloy constrictions down to a few atoms in size. We find a negative DWR for nanometer-sized constrictions, becoming positive in the atomic-contact regime. We conclude that the contribution from the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Europhysics letters 2011-04, Vol.94 (2), p.27002
Main Authors: Ben Hamida, A, Rousseau, O, Petit-Watelot, S, Viret, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
72.15.Gd
72.25.Ba
73.23.Ad
Condensed Matter
Other
Physics
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Summary:The magnetoresistance of a domain wall (DWR) is measured in Permalloy constrictions down to a few atoms in size. We find a negative DWR for nanometer-sized constrictions, becoming positive in the atomic-contact regime. We conclude that the contribution from the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) is gradually weakened as size decreases and spin-polarized transport across an atomically narrow constriction dominates the magnetoresistance. This is revealed by a positive contribution to the DWR reaching four percent for the smallest constrictions, which depends significantly on the specifics of the atomic arrangement.
ISSN:0295-5075
1286-4854
DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/94/27002