Angular dependence of domain wall resistivity in SrRuO${}_3$ films

Abstract

$\mathrm{SrRu}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ is a 4d itinerant ferromagnet (T${}_c$ $\sim$150 K) with stripe domain structure. Using high-quality thin films of SrRuO${}_3$ we study the resistivity induced by its very narrow ($\sim 3$ nm) Bloch domain walls, ${\rho }_{DW}$ (DWR), at temperatures between 2 K and T${}_c$ as a function of the angle, $\theta$, between the electric current and the ferromagnetic domains walls. We find that ${\rho }_{DW}(T,\theta )={\sin }^2\theta {\rho }_{DW}(T,90)+B(\theta ){\rho }_{DW}(T,0)$ which provides the first experimental indication that the angular dependence of spin accumulation contribution to DWR is ${\sin }^2\theta$. We expect magnetic multilayers to exhibit a similar behavior.

5 pages, 5 figures