Magnon magnetoresistance of NiFe nanowires: Size dependence and domain wall detection

Abstract

The magnetoresistance of permalloy (Ni84Fe16) nanowires of various widths (down to 50 nm) has been measured for fields applied along the wires. The enhancement of the shape anisotropy in the narrowest widths leads to the disappearance of the anisotropic magnetoresistance signal, the remaining contribution to the magnetoresistance being that of the magnons. Using constrictions to pin a domain wall, we show that the magnon magnetoresistance signal can give access to the position of the domain wall along the wire.