Angular dependence of domain wall resistivity in SrRuO$_{{\bf 3}}$ films

TL;DR

This study investigates how the resistivity caused by narrow domain walls in SrRuO$_3$ films varies with the angle between current and domain walls, revealing a $ ext{sin}^2 heta$ dependence of spin accumulation effects.

Contribution

First experimental evidence showing the angular dependence of domain wall resistivity in SrRuO$_3$, highlighting the $ ext{sin}^2 heta$ behavior of spin accumulation contribution.

Findings

Resistivity due to domain walls varies with angle as $ ext{sin}^2 heta$.

The angular dependence indicates spin accumulation effects are maximized at $ heta=90^ ext{o}$.

Results suggest similar behavior in magnetic multilayers.

Abstract

${\rm SrRuO_3}$ is a 4d itinerant ferromagnet (T$_{c}$ $\sim $150 K) with stripe domain structure. Using high-quality thin films of SrRuO$_{3}$ we study the resistivity induced by its very narrow ($\sim 3$ nm) Bloch domain walls, $\rho_{DW}$ (DWR), at temperatures between 2 K and T$_{c}$ as a function of the angle, $\theta $, between the electric current and the ferromagnetic domains walls. We find that $\rho_{DW}(T,\theta)=\sin^2\theta \rho_{DW}(T,90)+B(\theta)\rho_{DW}(T,0)$ which provides the first experimental indication that the angular dependence of spin accumulation contribution to DWR is $\sin^2\theta$. We expect magnetic multilayers to exhibit a similar behavior.