Micromagnetic understanding of current-driven domain wall motion in patterned nanowires

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Published 23 February 2005 2005 EDP Sciences
, , Citation A. Thiaville et al 2005 EPL 69 990 DOI 10.1209/epl/i2004-10452-6

0295-5075/69/6/990

Abstract

In order to explain recent experiments reporting a motion of magnetic domain walls (DW) in nanowires carrying a current, we propose a modification of the spin transfer torque term in the Landau-Lifchitz-Gilbert equation. We show that it explains, with reasonable parameters, the measured DW velocities as well as the variation of DW propagation field under current. We also introduce coercivity by considering rough wires. This leads to a finite DW propagation field and finite threshold current for DW propagation, hence we conclude that threshold currents are extrinsic. Some possible models that support this new term are discussed.

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