Metastable magnetic domain walls in cylindrical nanowires

Ferguson, C.H., MacLaren, D.A. and McVitie, S. (2015) Metastable magnetic domain walls in cylindrical nanowires. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 381, pp. 457-462. (doi: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2015.01.027)

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Abstract

The stability of the asymmetric domain wall (ATDW) in soft magnetic cylindrical nanowires and nanotubes is investigated using micromagnetic simulations. Our calculated phase diagram shows that for cylindrical permalloy nanowires, the transverse domain wall (TDW) is the ground state for radii below 20 nm whilst the Bloch point wall (BPW) is favoured in thicker wires. The ATDW stabilises only as a metastable state but with energy close to that of the BPW. Characterisation of the DW spin structures reveals that the ATDW has a vortex-like surface spin state, in contrast to the divergent surface spins of the TDW. This results in lowering of surface charge above the critical radius. For both cylindrical nanotubes and nanowires we find that ATDWs only appear to exist as metastable static states and are particularly suppressed in nanotubes due to an increase in magnetostatic energy.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McVitie, Professor Stephen and MacLaren, Professor Donald
Authors: Ferguson, C.H., MacLaren, D.A., and McVitie, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Publisher:Elsevier B.V.
ISSN:0304-8853
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 381:457-462
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
547981Current-Driven Domain Wall Motion in Multilayer NanowiresStephen McvitieEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/I013520/1P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
530721Integrating advanced nanomaterials into transformative technologiesDonald MaclarenEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/I00419X/1P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY