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Hybrid normal metal/ferromagnetic nanojunctions for domain wall tracking
Héctor Corte-León1,2, Patryk Krzysteczko3, Alessandra Manzin4
1National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, TW11 0LW, United Kingdom. hector.corte@npl.co.uk.
Scientific Reports
|July 26, 2017
Summary
Hybrid gold/permalloy nanojunctions reveal enhanced magnetoresistance in L-shaped nanostructures. These junctions offer improved local magnetization probing and reveal novel metastable states, advancing spintronic device research.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Investigating magnetoresistance effects in nanostructures is crucial for developing advanced electronic devices.
- Understanding magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic materials is key to spintronics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore magnetoresistance phenomena in hybrid gold/permalloy (Au/Py) nanojunctions.
- To track the spatial distribution of magnetization in L-shaped permalloy (Py) nanostructures.
- To compare transversal and longitudinal resistance measurements in different sections of the nanostructure.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of hybrid normal metal/ferromagnetic (Au/Py) nanojunctions.
- Measurement of transversal and longitudinal resistances in straight and corner sections of Py nanostructures.
- Utilizing micromagnetic simulations and a magnetotransport model for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Absolute resistance change was larger in longitudinal measurements, but relative transversal resistance change was significantly higher along the straight section.
- Hybrid nanojunctions showed reduced pinning potential and enabled local magnetization probing, outperforming all-ferromagnetic crosses.
- Observed unusual metastable states with longitudinal domain walls along Py straight sections.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid Au/Py nanojunctions offer a significant advancement for studying magnetoresistance and magnetization in nanostructures.
- The developed hybrid junctions provide a more sensitive method for local magnetization probing compared to previous technologies.
- The study identified novel magnetic phenomena, including metastable states, offering new avenues for spintronic applications.
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