Switching by Domain-Wall Automotion in Asymmetric Ferromagnetic Rings

Abstract

A ring-shaped magnetic logic device offers two vortex states (clockwise and counterclockwise) to encode bits, with relative stability against external magnetic fields. The dynamics of magnetization switching in such structures, though, still need unraveling. The authors present direct experimental visualization of reproducible, robust switching in magnetic rings via domain-wall automotion, which does not require an applied field. Simulations reveal that annihilation of domain walls through automotion always occurs, with the detailed topology of the walls only influencing the dynamics locally, in line with the experimental results.