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Universality classes of magnetic domain wall motion
Jae-Chul Lee1, Kab-Jin Kim, Jisu Ryu
1CSO, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.
Physical Review Letters
|September 10, 2011
Summary
Magnetic domain wall motion in Pt-Co-Pt nanowires driven by fields or current belongs to a single universality class. This contrasts with magnetic semiconductors, suggesting new universality classes for driven interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Understanding magnetic domain wall motion is crucial for spintronic devices.
- Previous studies on magnetic semiconductors like (Ga,Mn)As reported different universality classes for field- and current-driven motion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the universality class of magnetic domain wall motion in metallic Pt-Co-Pt nanowires.
- To compare the behavior of metallic nanowires with magnetic semiconductors.
Main Methods:
- Experimental examination of magnetic domain wall motion in Pt-Co-Pt nanowires.
- Analysis of motion driven by both magnetic fields and electrical currents.
- Comparison of experimental data with theoretical models of driven interfaces.
Main Results:
- All experimental data for magnetic domain wall motion in Pt-Co-Pt nanowires, whether field- or current-driven, collapse onto a single universal curve in the creep regime.
- This indicates that both driving mechanisms lead to the same universality class.
Conclusions:
- Magnetic domain wall motion in metallic Pt-Co-Pt nanowires belongs to a single universality class, irrespective of the driving mechanism.
- This finding challenges existing models and suggests the possibility of additional universality classes beyond current understanding of driven interfaces.
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