Dynamics of Magnetic Domain Walls Under Their Own Inertia

The motion of magnetic domain walls induced by spin-polarized current has considerable potential for use in magnetic memory and logic devices. Key to the success of these devices is the precise positioning of individual domain walls along magnetic nanowires, using current pulses. We show that domain...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2010-12, Vol.330 (6012), p.1810-1813
Main Authors: Thomas, Luc, Moriya, Rai, Rettner, Charles, Parkin, Stuart S.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Current pulses
Devices
Domain walls
Electric current
Electric pulses
Electronic transport in condensed matter
Exact sciences and technology
Inertia
Kinetics
Logical Thinking
Magnetic domains
Magnetic properties and materials
Magnetic properties of nanostructures
Magnetism
Materials science
Motion
Nanocomposites
Nanostructure
Nanowires
Permalloys
Physics
Spin polarized transport
Terminal velocity
Walls
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Summary:The motion of magnetic domain walls induced by spin-polarized current has considerable potential for use in magnetic memory and logic devices. Key to the success of these devices is the precise positioning of individual domain walls along magnetic nanowires, using current pulses. We show that domain walls move surprisingly long distances of several micrometers and relax over several tens of nanoseconds, under their own inertia, when the current stimulus is removed. We also show that the net distance traveled by the domain wall is exactly proportional to the current pulse length because of the lag derived from its acceleration at the onset of the pulse. Thus, independent of its inertia, a domain wall can be accurately positioned using properly timed current pulses.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1197468