Magnetic localization in transition-metal nanowires

Authors

• Ralph Skomski, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• H. Zeng, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• M. Zheng, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• David J. Sellmyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

August 2000

Comments

Published by American Physical Society. Phys. Rev. B 62, 3900 (2000). http://prb.aps.org. Copyright © 2000 American Physical Society. Permission to use.

Abstract

Magnetization reversal in transition-metal nanowires is investigated. Model calculations explain why magnetization reversal is localized, as opposed to the sometimes assumed delocalized coherent-rotation and curling modes. The localization is a quite general phenomenon caused by morphological inhomogenities and occurring in both polycrystalline and single-crystalline wires. In the polycrystalline limit, the competition between interatomic exchange and anisotropy gives rise to a variety of random-anisotropy effects, whereas nearly single-crystalline wires exhibit a weak localization of the nucleation mode. Model predictions are used to explain the coercive and magnetic-viscosity behavior of Co (and Ni) nanowires electrodeposited in self-assembled alumina pores.