Spacial Modulation of the Magnetization in Cobalt Nanowires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the magnetization in cobalt nanowires can be spatially modulated due to the interplay of crystal anisotropy and demagnetization energy, leading to a lower energy configuration.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of periodic modulation of magnetization angle in cobalt nanowires to minimize energy, highlighting a novel magnetic behavior.

Findings

Periodic modulation reduces overall magnetic energy.

Magnetization aligns with the easy axis in a modulated pattern.

The modulation depends on wire diameter and anisotropy balance.

Abstract

Cobalt nanowires with a diameter in the range between 50 to 100nm can be prepared as single-crystal wires with the easy axis (the c-axis) perpendicular to the wire axis. The competition between the crystal anisotropy and demagnetization energy frustrates the magnetization direction. A periodic modulation of the angle between M and the wire axis yields a lower energy.