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Walker Breakdown with a Twist: Dynamics of Multilayer Domain Walls and Skyrmions Driven by Spin-Orbit Torque

Journal Article · · Physical Review Applied
 [1];  [2]
  1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); OSTI
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Current-induced dynamics of twisted domain walls and skyrmions in ferromagnetic perpendicularly magnetized multilayers is studied through three-dimensional micromagnetic simulations and analytical modeling. In this work, it is shown that such systems generally exhibit a Walker-breakdown-like phenomenon in the presence of a current-induced dampinglike spin-orbit torque. Above a critical current threshold, corresponding to typical velocities of the order of tens of m/s, domain walls in some layers start to precess with frequencies in the gigahertz regime, which leads to oscillatory motion and a significant drop in mobility. This phenomenon originates from complex stray field interactions and occurs for a wide range of multilayer materials and structures that include at least three ferromagnetic layers and finite Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. An analytical model is developed to describe the precessional dynamics in multilayers with surface-volume stray field interactions, yielding qualitative agreement with micromagnetic simulations.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012371
OSTI ID:
1802330
Journal Information:
Physical Review Applied, Journal Name: Physical Review Applied Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 12; ISSN 2331-7019
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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