Reproducible domain wall pinning by linear non-topographic features in a ferromagnetic nanowire

Abstract

We demonstrate that for multilayered magnetic nanowires, where the thickness and composition of the individual layers has been carefully chosen, domain walls can be pinned at non-topographic sites created purely by ion irradiation in a focused ion beam system. The pinning results from irradiation induced alloying leading to magnetic property modification only in the affected regions. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we have studied the pinning behavior of domain walls at the irradiation sites. Depending on the irradiation dose, a single line feature not only pinned the domain walls but also acted to control their structure and the strength of their pinning.

5 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (2)

• Domain wall pinning and potential landscapes created by constrictions and protrusions in ferromagnetic nanowires
• Direct comparison of domain wall behavior in Permalloy nanowires patterned by electron beam lithography and focused ion beam milling

Cited by in corpus (5)

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• Control of domain wall motion at vertically etched nanotrench in ferromagnetic nanowires
• Lorentz TEM imaging of stripe structures embedded in a soft magnetic matrix