Electric field driven multi-state magnetization switching in triangular nanomagnets on piezoelectric substrate.

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Multiferroic heterostructures with magnetostrictive nanomagnets and piezoelectric substrates offer potential for next-generation magneto-elastic memory and logic devices.
• Electric field control of magnetic states via magneto-elastic coupling is crucial for advanced device functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate multistate magnetization switching in triangular soft magnetic nanomagnets on a piezoelectric substrate.
• To explore the use of localized strain-induced magnetic anisotropy for deterministic magnetization control.

Main Methods:

• Micromagnetic simulations were employed to analyze the behavior of magnetic nanomagnets.
• Investigated the effect of electric field-induced piezostrain on magnetic anisotropy and magnetization switching.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated multistate magnetization switching in a triangular nanomagnet using localized strain-induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy pulses.
• Achieved 60° magnetization switching per pulse, with complete clockwise and counter-clockwise switching cycles.
• Established relationships between critical strain pulse magnitude and nanomagnet geometric parameters (thickness, lateral size).

Conclusions:

• Localized strain-induced magnetic anisotropy, combined with shape anisotropy, enables precise multistate magnetization switching.
• This local gating scheme facilitates electric field-induced ultra-fast, deterministic, and reversible magnetization switching.
• The findings are key for developing advanced magnetoelastic and magnetoelectric memory and logic devices.