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Control of Magnetization-Reversal Mechanism via Uniaxial Anisotropy Strength in La0.67Sr0.33Mn O3 Electrodes for Spintronic Devices


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Type

Article

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Authors

Phillips, LC 
Yan, W 
Moya, X 
Maccherozzi, F 

Abstract

Spintronic device performance depends critically on magnetization-reversal processes, but these are rarely imaged in order to verify correct operation. Here we use magnetometry and magnetic imaging to study thin films and patterned elements of highly spin-polarized La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, grown epitaxially on NdGaO3 substrates whose crystallographic orientation determines magnetic anisotropy strength. Small anisotropy yields gradual magnetization reversal via nucleation and propagation of small needle domains, whereas large anisotropy yields a single nucleation event resulting in sharp and complete magnetization reversal. These observed differences are explained using micromagnetic simulations, and exploited in order to quantify the effect of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 electrode behaviour on spin signals from hypothetical devices. Our work therefore highlights the dramatic discrepancies that can arise between the design and performance of spintronic devices.

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Keywords

51 Physical Sciences, 5104 Condensed Matter Physics

Journal Title

Physical Review Applied

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2331-7019
2331-7019

Volume Title

4

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
Sponsorship
The Royal Society (uf120210)
This work was funded by grant F/09 154/E from The Leverhulme Trust and a UK EPSRC DTA award (L. C. P.), Isaac Newton Trust grant 10.26(u) and UK EPSRC grant EP/E0026206 (M. G.), and Herchel Smith and Spanish MEC Ramón y Cajal Fellowships (X. M.).