Electric-field modulation of exchange stiffness in MgO/CoFeB with perpendicular anisotropy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how applying an electric field can modulate the exchange stiffness in MgO/CoFeB with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, affecting magnetic domain structures and offering a new control mechanism.

Contribution

It reveals that electric-field modulation of exchange stiffness, alongside magnetic anisotropy, influences domain structures in MgO/CoFeB, providing novel insights into electric control of magnetic properties.

Findings

Electric field alters the magnetic domain period.

Exchange stiffness modulation explains domain pattern changes.

Magnetic anisotropy modulation alone is insufficient.

Abstract

We observe magnetic domain structures of MgO/CoFeB with a perpendicular magnetic easy axis under an electric field. The domain structure shows a maze pattern with electric-field dependent isotropic period. We find that the electric-field modulation of the period is explained by considering the electric-field modulation of the exchange stiffness constant in addition to the known magnetic anisotropy modulation.