Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

15:04
Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 3, 2021
Thermal effects on domain wall depinning from a single notch
E Martinez1, L Lopez-Diaz, O Alejos
1Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Banuelos, s/n, E-09001, Burgos, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|August 7, 2007
Summary
This study models domain wall depinning in ferromagnetic wires, highlighting thermal fluctuations
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Domain wall dynamics are crucial for magnetic memory devices.
- Understanding depinning mechanisms is key to controlling magnetic behavior.
- Ferromagnetic wires with notches present a model system for studying depinning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the statistical behavior of domain wall depinning from a notch in a thin ferromagnetic wire.
- To elucidate the influence of thermal fluctuations on depinning processes.
- To enable experimental comparison for determining spin torque nonadiabaticity.
Main Methods:
- Development of a stochastic one-dimensional model.
- Representation of the domain wall as a rigid object.
- Inclusion of a parabolic potential and room temperature effects.
Main Results:
- The model accurately captures the statistical behavior of domain wall depinning.
- Thermal fluctuations play a critical role in both current- and field-induced depinning.
- The analysis provides a framework for experimental validation.
Conclusions:
- Thermal fluctuations significantly impact domain wall depinning dynamics.
- The model facilitates experimental determination of spin torque nonadiabaticity.
- This research contributes to the fundamental understanding of magnetic domain behavior.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics
When an electric field passes from one homogeneous medium to another, crossing the boundary between the two mediums imparts a discontinuity in the electric field. This results in electrostatic boundary conditions that depend on the type of mediums the field propagates through.
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity.
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity.
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
In the absence of an external magnetic field, nuclear spin states are degenerate and randomly oriented. When a magnetic field is applied, the spins begin to precess and orient themselves along (lower energy) or against (higher energy) the direction of the field. At equilibrium, a slight excess population of spins exists in the lower energy state. Because the direction of the magnetic field is fixed as the z-axis, the precessing magnetic moments are randomly oriented around the z-axis. This...
Magnetic Damping
Eddy currents can produce significant drag on motion, called magnetic damping. For instance, when a metallic pendulum bob swings between the poles of a strong magnet, significant drag acts on the bob as it enters and leaves the field, quickly damping the motion.
If, however, the bob is a slotted metal plate, the magnet produces a much smaller effect. When a slotted metal plate enters the field, an emf is induced by the change in flux; however, it is less effective because the slots limit the...
If, however, the bob is a slotted metal plate, the magnet produces a much smaller effect. When a slotted metal plate enters the field, an emf is induced by the change in flux; however, it is less effective because the slots limit the...
Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions
An electric field suffers a discontinuity at a surface charge. Similarly, a magnetic field is discontinuous at a surface current. The perpendicular component of a magnetic field is continuous across the interface of two magnetic mediums. In contrast, its parallel component, perpendicular to the current, is discontinuous by the amount equal to the product of the vacuum permeability and the surface current. Like the scalar potential in electrostatics, the vector potential is also continuous...
Standing Waves in a Cavity
A household microwave and lasers are examples of standing electromagnetic waves in a cavity. When two conducting metal plates are placed parallel at the nodal planes, it creates a cavity where standing waves are formed. The cavity between the two planes is analogous to a stretched string held at the points x = 0 and x = L. Here, the distance 'L' between the two planes must be an integer multiple of half of the wavelength. The wavelengths that satisfy this condition are given by:
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions
Consider an external electric field propagating through a homogeneous medium. When the electric field crosses the surface boundary of the medium, it undergoes a discontinuity. The electric field can be resolved into normal and tangential components. The amount by which the field changes at any boundary is given by the difference between the field components above and below the surface boundary.
The surface integral of an electric field is given by Gauss's law in integral form and is related to...
The surface integral of an electric field is given by Gauss's law in integral form and is related to...

