Current-driven narrow domain wall depinning in perpendicular spin valves

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 41; no. 10; pp. 2618 - 2620
• Main Authors: Ravelosona, D., Lacour, D., Katine, J.A., Terris, B.D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Domain wall (DW); Exact sciences and technology; Gold; Magnetic domain walls; Magnetic domains; Magnetic films; Magnetic separation; Magnetism; Magnetization reversal; Materials science; Motion measurement; Other topics in materials science; perpendicular anisotropy; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Physics; spin transfer; Spin valves; Wires; Domain wall (DW); Magnetization; Anisotropy; perpendicular anisotropy; Valves; Magnetic properties; magnetization reversal; spin transfer
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2005.855347

We have studied the current-driven depinning processes for a narrow 12-nm wide one-dimensional Bloch domain wall (DW) in films exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). High sensitivity magnetotransport measurements allow us to observe the motion of the narrow DW between pinned sites separated by /spl sim/20 nm. Thermal fluctuations are found to play a crucial role. A current-driven depinning force two to three orders of magnitude higher than has been seen in conventional in-plane systems is found, suggesting a more efficient spin transfer mechanism in our PMA system.