Field Tuning of Ferromagnetic Domain Walls on Elastically Coupled Ferroelectric Domain Boundaries

TL;DR

This study demonstrates precise control over ferromagnetic domain wall properties in elastically coupled ferromagnetic-ferroelectric heterostructures using magnetic field manipulation, enabling reversible switching and significant width changes.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control ferromagnetic domain walls via elastic coupling to ferroelectric boundaries, including reversible switching and large width modulation.

Findings

Magnetic field strength controls spin rotation and domain wall width.

Reversible switching between charged and uncharged domain walls.

Wall width can change by up to 1000% during switching.

Abstract

We report on the evolution of ferromagnetic domain walls during magnetization reversal in elastically coupled ferromagnetic-ferroelectric heterostructures. Using optical polarization microscopy and micromagnetic simulations, we demonstrate that the spin rotation and width of ferromagnetic domain walls can be accurately controlled by the strength of the applied magnetic field if the ferromagnetic walls are pinned onto 90 degrees ferroelectric domain boundaries. Moreover, reversible switching between magnetically charged and uncharged domain walls is initiated by magnetic field rotation. Switching between both wall types reverses the wall chirality and abruptly changes the width of the ferromagnetic domain walls by up to 1000%.