Shifted hysteresis loops from magnetic nanowires

Abstract

We demonstrate that positively and negatively field-shifted magnetic hysteresis loops can be obtained from a single continuous L-shaped magnetic nanostructure. This is achieved by controlling the coercivity of one arm of the L-shape structure with the magnetization direction of the orthogonal arm. Furthermore, a memory effect is demonstrated by reversing the magnetization direction of one arm while leaving the other unchanged. Good discrimination between the different switching field magnitudes and the ease of fabrication make these continuous magnetic structures more suitable than chains of discrete magnetic dots for performing logical operations.