Optical spin-transfer-torque-driven domain-wall motion in a ferromagnetic semiconductor

We demonstrate optical manipulation of the position of a domain wall in a dilute magnetic semiconductor,GaMnAsP. Two main contributions are identified. First, photocarrier spin exerts a spin-transfer torque on the magnetization via the exchange interaction. The direction of the domain-wall motion ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ramsay, A.J., Roy, P.E., Haigh, J.A., Otxoa, R.M., Irvine, A.C., Janda, T., Campion, R.P., Gallagher, B.L., Wunderlich, J.
Format: Article
Published: American Physical Society 2015
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35705/
Description
Summary:We demonstrate optical manipulation of the position of a domain wall in a dilute magnetic semiconductor,GaMnAsP. Two main contributions are identified. First, photocarrier spin exerts a spin-transfer torque on the magnetization via the exchange interaction. The direction of the domain-wall motion can be controlled using the helicity of the laser. Second, the domain wall is attracted to the hot spot generated by the focused laser. Unlike magnetic-field-driven domain-wall depinning, these mechanisms directly drive domain-wall motion, providing an optical tweezerlike ability to position and locally probe domain walls.