Chapter 7

Micromagnetism, domains and hysteresis

7.1 Micromagnetic energy

7.2 Domain theory
7.5 Reversal, pinning and nucleation

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The hysteresis loop

spontaneous magnetization

remanence

coercivity virgin curve

initial susceptibility

major loop

The hysteresis loop shows the irreversible, nonlinear response of a ferromagnet to a

magnetic field . It reflects the arrangement of the magnetization in ferromagnetic domains.
The magnet cannot be in thermodynamic equilibrium anywhere around the open part of
the curve! M and H have the same units (A m-1).
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Domains form to minimize the dipolar energy Ed

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Magnetostatics

Poisson’s equarion

Volume charge

Boundary condition

en 2. air
+
1. solid +
M +

M( r) ! H( r) BUT H( r) ! M( r)

Experimental information about the domain structure comes from observations at the surface.
The interior is inscruatble.

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7.1 Micromagnetic energy

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 1.1 Exchange

eM = M( r)/Ms (",#)

Exchange length A = kTC/2a

A = 2JS2Zc/a0
A ~ 10 pJ m-1
Lex ~ 2 - 3 nm

Exchange energy of vortex

$Eex = JS2ln (R/a)

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1.2 Anisotropy

EK = K1sin2" Bulk K1 ~ 102 - 107 J m-3

Surface Ksa ~ 0.1 - 1 mJ m-2.

Interface Kea ~ 1 mJ m-2.

Exchange and anisotropy govern

the width of the domain wall.

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1.3 Demagnetizing field
Demagnetizing field governs the formation of the wall

(integral over all space) and B = µ0(H + M)

Hd is determined by the volume and surface charge distributions %.M and en.M
&m = qm/4'r; %2 &m= -(m H = - %&m

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1.4 Stress

Magnetoelastic strain tensor

For isotropic material, uniaxial stress

Induced uniaxial anisotropy

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1.5 Magnetosriction

Local stresses can be created by the magnetostriction of the ferromagnet itself:

Magnetostrictive stress

Deviation due to magnetostriction Elastic tensor

Usually this term is small < 1 kj m-3 , but it can influence the formation of closure domains.

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1.6 Charge Avoidance

A guide to how nature minimizes the micromagnetic free energy is the charge avoidance principle.

Avoid forming bulk or surface chage, and keep charge of like sign as far apart as possible

e.g Keep magnetization parallel to the surface, wherever possible.

Toroid

Picture frame

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General statement of the micromagnetic problem:
No torque on the magnetization at any point.

Brown’s Micromagnetic equations

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7.1 Domain Theory

A ~ 10-11 J m-1
K1 ~ 10 5 J m-3

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2.1 Bloch Wall

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 2.1 Néel Wall

Neel walls form in thin films of soft material

thinner than ~ 6 nm

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2.3 Magnetization processes

There are two magnetization processes for a ferromagnet:

1) Domain-wall motion
2) Magnetization rotation
H’

If the domain walls are perfectly free to move, they will do so

until H =0; H’ = 1/N

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7.3 Nucleation, reversal and pinning

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 Brown’s paradox

Brown’s theorem; for a

homogeneous, uniformly-
magnetized ellipse

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A very small particle will be single-domain. Larger particles form domain walls to reduce demagnetizing energy

Single-domain particle size:

Cost of making two 90 degree walls is 2!R2(AK)1/2 should offset the

gain in demagnetizing energy -(1/2)NMs2

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3.2 The Stoner Wohlfarth model Assume coherent rotation of the magnetization. H makes
an angle ) with the axis of the particle.

NB R < Rsd does not guarantee coherent rotation.

When ) = 0, Hc=2Ku/µ0Ms

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The energy landscape of a Stoner Wohlfarth particle

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Hc = 0.479
Mr = 0.5
Area = 0.99

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Preisach Model
Model hysteresis loops with a distribution of elementary square loops.
These are known as ‘hysterons’

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Other reversal modes

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3.3 Reversal in thin films and small elements

Consider a thin film as a 2D S-W ‘particle’. The reversal
is assumed to be coherent
Take components of H along easy and hard directions, and
normalize them by the anisotropy field 2Ku/Ms
The Stoner Wohlfarth asteroid.
Locus of points where a bifurcation of energy occurs
Switching occurs on the surface, never within it.

dEtot/d"=0

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3.4 The two-hemisphere model
A sphere made up of two halves with different anisotropy K) and K*

Exchange + dipole interactions Anisotropy + Zeeman interactions

If K1 = K) and K* = 0, Independent reveral of the soft hemisphere occurs when H (1/8) Ms

Except if R < lex, when the soft hemisphere cannot reverse independently.

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Exchange stiffening operates on a length scale of up to 4lex 10 nm.

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3.4 Switching dynamics;

Torque on a magnetic moment in a field causes precession

at the Larmor precession frequency
i.e. 28 GHz/T when g=2 and + = -e/m

In the presence of unixial anisotropy:

Gilbert damping term

M

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3.5 Domain wall pinning

Barkhausen jumps

Domain wall velocity.

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3.6 Real hysteresis loops

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Kronmuller Equation

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Approach to saturation

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Time Dependence
Magnetic Viscosity M = M0 - S ln t

spontaneous magnetization

remanence

coercivity virgin curve

initial susceptibility

major loop

The hysteresis loop shows the irreversible, nonlinear response of a ferromagnet to a

magnetic field . It reflects the arrangement of the magnetization in ferromagnetic domains.
The magnet cannot be in thermodynamic equilibrium anywhere around the open part of
the curve! M and H have the same units (A m-1).
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