Optimization of nanostructured permalloy electrodes for a lateral hybrid spin-valve structure

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nanostructuring Permalloy electrodes influences their magnetic states in spin-valve devices, identifying aspect ratio regimes for optimal single-domain magnetization and effects of structural features on domain stability.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of aspect ratio regimes for Permalloy electrodes to achieve single-domain states, and examines how structural features affect magnetic uniformity in spin-valve structures.

Findings

High aspect ratio ($m \,\ge\, 20$) yields single-domain states.

Medium aspect ratio ($m \sim 3$ to $20$) results in closure domains.

Vertical flanks help maintain uniform magnetization.

Abstract

Ferromagnetic electrodes of a lateral semiconductor-based spin-valve structure are designed to provide a maximum of spin-polarized injection current. A single-domain state in remanence is a prerequisite obtained by nanostructuring Permalloy thin film electrodes. Three regimes of aspect ratios $m$ are identified by room temperature magnetic force microscopy: (i) high-aspect ratios of $m \ge 20$ provide the favored remanent single-domain magnetization states, (ii) medium-aspect ratios $m \sim 3$ to $m \sim 20$ yield highly remanent states with closure domains and (iii) low-aspect ratios of $m \le 3$ lead to multi-domain structures. Lateral kinks, introduced to bridge the gap between micro- and macroscale, disturb the uniform magnetization of electrodes with high- and medium-aspect ratios. However, vertical flanks help to maintain a uniformly magnetized state at the ferromagnet-semiconcuctor contact by domain wall pinning.