Magnetization dynamics: ultra-fast and ultra-small

Ultrafast magnetic processes are of great scientific interest but also form the basis of high density magnetic recording applications. We demonstrate the uniqueness of time resolved, high resolution magnetic X-ray microscopy, and show that the motion of a magnetic vortex core can be imaged. The vortex core direction is hidden to most experimental techniques, but has a decisive influence on the dynamics of the magnetic structure.We imaged the switching of a ferromagnetic nanostructure by a spin polarized current pulse using time resolved X-ray microscopy. As opposed to the common uniform switching process due to Néel and Stoner–Wohlfarth, the magnetization in spin injection devices does not switch uniformly, but involves the motion of a magnetic vortex. To cite this article: Y. Acremann, C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

Faster vortex core switching with lower current density using three-nanocontact spin-polarized currents in a confined structure

We perform micromagnetic simulations on the switching of magnetic vortex core by using spin-polarized currents through a three-nanocontact geometry. Our simulation results show that the current combination with an appropriate current flow direction destroys the symmetry of the total effective energy of the system so that the vortex core can be easier to excite,resulting in less critical current density and a faster switching process. Besides its fundamental significance, our findings provide an additional route to incorporating magnetic vortex phenomena into data storage devices.     

电流调控磁涡旋的极性和旋性

提出了一种特殊自旋阀结构, 其极化层(钉扎层)磁矩沿面内方向, 自由层磁矩成磁涡旋结构. 自由层在形状上设计成左右两边厚度不同的阶梯形圆盘. 微磁学模拟研究发现, 通过调控所施加的高斯型脉冲电流的大小、方向和脉冲宽度, 可以实现磁涡旋的不同旋性、不同极性的组态控制. 分析了该结构中电流调控磁涡旋旋性和极性的物理原因和微观机理.     

磁涡旋极性翻转的局域能量

针对坡莫合金纳米圆盘中的单个磁涡旋结构,采用微磁学模拟研究了磁涡旋极性翻转过程中的局域能量密度.磁涡旋的极性翻转通过与初始涡旋极性相反的涡旋与反涡旋对的生成,以及随后发生的反涡旋与初始涡旋的湮没来实现.模拟结果显示当纳米圆盘样品中局域能量密度的最大值达到一临界值时,磁涡旋将会实现极性翻转,其中交换能起主导作用.基于涡旋极性翻转过程中出现的三涡旋态结构,应用刚性磁涡旋模型对局域交换能量密度进行了理论分析.通过刚性磁涡旋模型得到的磁涡旋极性翻转所需的局域交换能量密度的临界值与模拟结果符合得较好.     

Ultrafast nanomagnetic toggle switching of vortex cores

We present an ultrafast route for a controlled, toggle switching of magnetic vortex cores with ultrashort unipolar magnetic field pulses. The switching process is found to be largely insensitive to extrinsic parameters, like sample size and shape, and it is faster than any field-driven magnetization reversal process previously known from micromagnetic theory. Micromagnetic simulations demonstrate that the vortex core reversal is mediated by a rapid sequence of vortex-antivortex pair creation and annihilation subprocesses. Specific combinations of field-pulse strength and duration are required to obtain a controlled vortex core reversal. The operational range of this reversal mechanism is summarized in a switching diagram for a 200 nm Permalloy disk.     

Dynamic origin of vortex core switching in soft magnetic nanodots

The magnetic vortex with in-plane curling magnetization and out-of-plane magnetization at the core is a unique ground state in nanoscale magnetic elements. This kind of magnetic vortex can be used, through its downward or upward core orientation, as a memory unit for information storage, and thus, controllable core switching deserves some special attention. Our analytical and micromagnetic calculations reveal that the origin of vortex core reversal is a gyrotropic field. This field is induced by vortex dynamic motion and is proportional to the velocity of the moving vortex. Our calculations elucidate the physical origin of the vortex core dynamic reversal, and, thereby, offer a key to effective manipulation of the vortex core orientation.     

椭圆纳米盘中磁涡旋结构的方位角自旋波模式

本文针对坡莫合金椭圆形盘中的磁涡旋结构, 采用微磁学模拟与傅里叶分析相结合的技术研究了磁涡旋自旋波的本征激发模式. 通过沿样品短轴方向施加一面内方向的脉冲磁场, 观察到一系列方位角自旋波模式. 观察到的自旋波模式具有两重对称性, 可以通过C₂群理论来进行类型的划分. 此外, 自旋波模式的频率随着方位角指标的变化而线性增加. 模拟结果显示样品的平均交换能量密度明显的高于平均静磁能量密度; 局域交换能量密度主要集中在涡核初始位置, 而局域静磁能量密度主要分布在长轴附近. 交换作用对受限于铁磁薄膜椭圆盘中的单个涡旋态的能量要起主导作用, 从而导致方位角自旋波模式频率随着方位角指标的增加而增加.     

Parameter dependence of resonant spin torque magnetization reversal

We numerically study ultra fast resonant spin torque (ST) magnetization reversal in magnetic tunneling junctions (MTJ) driven by current pulses having a direct current (DC) and a resonant alternating current (AC) component. The precessional ST dynamics of the single domain MTJ free layer cell are modeled in the macro spin approximation. The energy efficiency, reversal time, and reversal reliability are investigated under variation of pulse parameters like direct and AC current amplitude, AC frequency and AC phase. We find a range of AC and direct current amplitudes where robust resonant ST reversal is obtained with faster switching time and reduced energy consumption per pulse compared to purely direct current ST reversal. However, for a certain range of AC and direct current amplitudes a strong dependence of the reversal properties on AC frequency and phase is found. Such regions of unreliable reversal must be avoided for ST memory applications.     

Topological textures and their bifurcation processes in 2D ferromagnetic thin films

In this paper, by the use of the topological current theory, the topological structures and the dynamic processes in thin-film ferromagnetic systems are investigated directly from the viewpoint of topology. It is found that the topological charge of a thin-film ferromagnetic system can be changed by annihilation or creation processes of opposite polarized vortex–antivortex pairs taking place at space–time singularities of the normalized magnetization vector field of the system, the variation of the topological charge is integer and can further be expressed in terms of the Hopf indices and Brouwer degrees of the magnetization vector field around the singularities. Moreover, the change of the topological charge of the system is crucial to vortex core reversal processes in ferromagnetic thin films. With the help of the topological current theory and implicit function theorem, the processes of vortex merging, splitting as well as vortex core reversal are discussed in detail.     

Two different modes of nested wire array Z-pinch implosions

Two different modes of nested wire array implosion driven by a 1-MA, 240-ns current pulse were observed, determined by the fraction of total current induced in the inner array. Penetration by the outer array through the inner with switching of current occurred if current in the inner array was initially suppressed. Simultaneous implosion of arrays with apparent compression of magnetic flux between the arrays was observed if approximately 20% of the current was in the inner array. In both cases the x-ray pulse rise time of approximately 10 ns (for 260-ns implosion time) was considerably smaller than for a single array.     

脉冲大电流系统空芯变压器设计

设计了一种变流用的带绕式空芯变压器,分析了变压器的工作原理并详细介绍了其制作过程。该变压器主要由引线、绝缘膜、铜带和内绝缘筒组成。在电容器充电电压为2500 V的条件下,实验得到该变压器原副边电流峰值分别为5.52 kA和1.48 kA,电流上升率分别为37 A/s和138 A/s。理论分析和实验结果表明:该变压器可以有效降低脉冲功率电路对开关电流上升率的要求,从而将重复频率和稳定性能更好的晶闸管应用于脉冲大电流系统,可以大大提高系统的放电频率和寿命。     

脉冲大电流系统空芯变压器设计

设计了一种变流用的带绕式空芯变压器,分析了变压器的工作原理并详细介绍了其制作过程。该变压器主要由引线、绝缘膜、铜带和内绝缘筒组成。在电容器充电电压为2500 V的条件下,实验得到该变压器原副边电流峰值分别为5.52 kA和1.48 kA,电流上升率分别为37 A/s和138 A/s。理论分析和实验结果表明:该变压器可以有效降低脉冲功率电路对开关电流上升率的要求,从而将重复频率和稳定性能更好的晶闸管应用于脉冲大电流系统,可以大大提高系统的放电频率和寿命。     

Switching behaviour of unijunction transistor in the presence of magnetic field

The influence of magnetic field on some switching parameters (turn-on time, turn-off time and amplitude of the current pulse appearing at base 1 terminal) of a unijunction transistor has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. The various switching parameters are shown to be governed by the magneto-concentration effect.     

快速关断半导体开关工作特性及实验研究北大核心CSCD

介绍了快速关断半导体开关(DSRD)的工作原理,研究了开关内部的物理过程,分析了系统参数对开关输出特性的影响,研究发现:基区材料的击穿阈值越高、载流子饱和漂移速度越大输出电压上升速率越快;基区高的电场击穿阈值或低的掺杂浓度会增加器件关断时间和最大工作电压;考虑各参数的影响,基于高击穿阈值的DSRD是实现快脉冲输出的理想器件;缩短正向泵浦时间可有效抑制预脉冲,当正向泵浦时间小于200 ns时,输出脉冲波形基本不变;为了获得理想的脉冲前沿,反向电流应在达到峰值时完成对注入电荷的抽取。设计了单前级开关的DSRD泵浦电路,研制了基于DSRD的快脉冲产生系统,输出脉冲前沿约4 ns,电压约8 kV,电压上升速率约2 kV/ns,满足FID开关器件对触发电压的要求。     

Micromagnetic simulation of magnetic vortex cores in circular permalloy disks: Switching behavior in external magnetic field

Switching behaviors of magnetic vortex cores under external magnetic field in submicron circular permalloy disks have been systematically studied by using micromagnetic simulations. Simulation results show that the vortex core is stable in out-of-plane field even when it is located at the edge of the disk. The out-of-plane switching field H_sw is strongly dependent on the thickness of the disk. The core polarity and the vortex chirality can be modulated simultaneously on purpose by using a tilted field far smaller than the out-of-plane switching field H_sw. Moreover, it is found that the core polarities in asymmetric disks do not follow the direction of the z projection of the external saturation field.     

Chiral vortical effect generated by chiral anomaly in vortex-skyrmions

We discuss the type of the general macroscopic parity-violating effects, when there is the current along the vortex, which is concentrated in the vortex core. We consider vortices in chiral superfluids with Weyl points. In the vortex core, the positions of the Weyl points form the skyrmion structure. We show that the mass current concentrated in such a core is provided by the spectral flow through the Weyl points according to the Adler–Bell–Jackiw equation for chiral anomaly.     

Direct observation of spin-torque driven magnetization reversal through nonuniform modes

We present time-resolved x-ray images with 30 nm spatial and 70 ps temporal resolution, which reveal details of the spatially resolved magnetization evolution in nanoscale samples of various dimensions during reversible spin-torque switching processes. Our data in conjunction with micromagnetic simulations suggest a simple unified picture of magnetic switching based on the motion of a magnetic vortex. With decreasing size of the magnetic element the path of the vortex core moves from inside to outside of the nanoelement, and the switching process evolves from a curled nonuniform to an increasingly uniform mode.     

Improvement in bias current redistribution in superconducting strip ion detectors with parallel configuration

In time-of-flight mass spectrometry(TOF MS), superconducting strip ion detectors(SSIDs) in the parallel configuration are promising for ideal ion detection with a nanosecond-scale time response and a practical large sensitive area. In the parallel configuration, the bias current in one strip is diverted into other parallel strips after each detection event. Under high bias current conditions, the diverted bias current induces cascade switching of all parallel strips. Studies show that cascade switching degrades the ion count rate of SSIDs made from niobium and hence is disliked in TOF MS applications. To suppress the bias current redistribution, we connected resistors in a series with the individual parallel strips using aluminum-bonding wires. Their effect was studied by measuring the pulse height distributions.     

Evolution of the switching current during the accumulation of fatigue in lead titanate and lead zirconate titanate thin films

The fatigue processes caused by repeated cyclic switching of polarization in lead titanate and lead zirconate titanate thin films on silicon substrates by applying rectangular pulse and sine wave fields are investigated. Upon an increase in the cycling number, an increase in the coercive and internal bias fields is observed, along with a reduction in the switching current maximum, the switching time, and the switchable polarization. At the same time, no change in the mobility of domain boundaries is observed.     

Onset of motion and dynamic reordering of a vortex lattice

Time resolved transport measurements on a driven vortex lattice in an undoped 2H-NbSe2 crystal show that the response to a current pulse is governed by healing of defects as the lattice evolves from a stationary to a moving steady state and that the response time reflects the degree of order in the initial vortex state. We find that stationary field cooled vortex lattices become more ordered with decreasing temperature and identify a temperature below which a qualitative change in the response signals the disappearance of topological defects.