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Spin-orbit-coupling-induced domain-wall resistance in diffusive ferromagnets.
Zhe Yuan1, Yi Liu, Anton A Starikov
1Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Physical Review Letters
|February 2, 2013
Summary
We discovered a new source of electrical resistance in magnetic domain walls (DWs) within Permalloy, arising from spin-orbit-coupling-mediated spin-flip scattering. This finding offers a new way to understand and potentially control magnetic materials.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Domain walls (DWs) in magnetic materials are crucial for data storage.
- Understanding transport phenomena in DWs is essential for spintronic device development.
- Permalloy is a widely used magnetic alloy with complex magnetic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate diffusive transport through domain wall profiles in Permalloy.
- To account for noncollinearity, alloy disorder, and spin-orbit coupling in a quantum mechanical framework.
- To identify novel contributions to domain wall resistance.
Main Methods:
- First-principles quantum mechanical calculations.
- Simultaneous consideration of noncollinearity, alloy disorder, and spin-orbit coupling.
- Analysis of domain wall profiles in Permalloy.
Main Results:
- Observed known effects like magnetization mistracking and anisotropic magnetoresistance.
- Discovered a new resistance contribution from spin-orbit-coupling-mediated spin-flip scattering.
- Identified this as adiabatic domain wall resistance present in all diffusive DWs.
Conclusions:
- A previously unidentified source of resistance in magnetic domain walls has been found.
- This adiabatic domain wall resistance is mediated by spin-orbit coupling and spin-flip scattering.
- The effect can be experimentally observed by tuning domain wall width in nanowires.
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