Effects of boundary conditions on magnetization switching in kinetic Ising models of nanoscale ferromagnets
- Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 (Japan)
- Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4052 (United States)
- Department of Solid State Physics, Riso/ National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde (Denmark)
- Department of Fundamental Sciences, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-01 (Japan)
Magnetization switching in highly anisotropic single-domain ferromagnets has been previously shown to be qualitatively described by the droplet theory of metastable decay and simulations of two-dimensional kinetic Ising systems with {ital periodic} boundary conditions. In this paper we consider the effects of boundary conditions on the switching phenomena. A rich range of behaviors is predicted by droplet theory: the specific mechanism by which switching occurs depends on the structure of the boundary, the particle size, the temperature, and the strength of the applied field. The theory predicts the existence of a peak in the switching field as a function of system size in both systems with periodic boundary conditions and in systems with boundaries. The size of the peak is strongly dependent on the boundary effects. It is generally reduced by open boundary conditions, and in some cases it disappears if the boundaries are too favorable towards nucleation. However, we also demonstrate conditions under which the peak remains discernible. This peak arises as a purely dynamic effect and is not related to the possible existence of multiple domains. We illustrate the predictions of droplet theory by Monte Carlo simulations of two-dimensional Ising systems with various system shapes and boundary conditions. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
- Research Organization:
- Florida State University
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-85ER25000
- OSTI ID:
- 656084
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 55; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMDO
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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