AVS 51st International Symposium
    Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Tuesday Sessions
       Session MI-TuP

Paper MI-TuP6
Nanostructured Zigzag Shaped Magnetic Devices

Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 4:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall B

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: D.P. Pappas, NIST
Authors: D.P. Pappas, NIST
F.C.S.S. da Silva, NIST
W.C. Uhlig, NIST
J. Unguris, NIST
Correspondent: Click to Email
Magnetism in zigzag shaped thin film elements is investigated using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis, magneto-transport measurements, and micromagnetic simulations. We find that the angle of magnetization alternates along the length of the element, and is strongly correlated to the corrugated edges. We show that this simple and unique geometry can be used as a natural means of biasing the magnetization relative to the current to form a magnetic field sensor. In this configuration the sensors are primarily sensitive to fields parallel to the applied current. These results can be interpreted in terms of a coherent rotation model of the magnetization. These devices are scalable to nanometer dimensions.