Reproducible domain wall pinning by linear non-topographic features in a ferromagnetic nanowire

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that ion irradiation can create non-topographic pinning sites in multilayered magnetic nanowires, allowing precise control of domain wall behavior for potential spintronic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a reproducible method of domain wall pinning using ion irradiation-induced alloying without topographic modifications.

Findings

Ion irradiation creates effective pinning sites in magnetic nanowires.

Pinning strength and domain wall structure can be controlled by irradiation dose.

The method enables precise, reproducible domain wall manipulation.

Abstract

We demonstrate that for multilayered magnetic nanowires, where the thickness and composition of the individual layers has been carefully chosen, domain walls can be pinned at non-topographic sites created purely by ion irradiation in a focused ion beam system. The pinning results from irradiation induced alloying leading to magnetic property modification only in the affected regions. Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we have studied the pinning behavior of domain walls at the irradiation sites. Depending on the irradiation dose, a single line feature not only pinned the domain walls but also acted to control their structure and the strength of their pinning.