Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall

Details Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall

1997-08-25

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9708191v1

Physics

Condensed Matter

38 pages, accepted for publication in Journal of Low Temperature Physics

Scientific paper

We consider the quantum dynamics of a magnetic domain wall at low temperatures, where dissipative couplings to magnons and electrons are very small. The wall motion is then determined by its coupling to phonons and nuclear spins, and any pinning potentials. In the absence of nuclear spins there is a dominant superOhmic 1-phonon coupling to the wall velocity, plus a strongly T-dependent Ohmic coupling to pairs of phonons. There is also a T-independent Ohmic coupling between single phonons and the wall chirality, which suppresses ``chirality tunneling''. We calculate the effect of these couplings on the T-dependent tunneling rate of a wall out of a pinning potential. Nuclear spins have a very strong and hitherto unsuspected influence on domain wall dynamics, coming from a hyperfine-mediated coupling to the domain wall position. For $k_B T \gg \omega_{0}$ this coupling yields a spatially random potential, fluctuating at a rate governed by the nuclear $T_2$. When $k_B T \ll \omega_{0}$, the hyperfine potential fluctuates around a linear binding potential. The wall dynamics is influenced by the fluctuations of this potential, ie., by the nuclear spin dynamics. Wall tunneling can occur when fluctuations open an occasional ``tunneling window''. This changes the crossover to tunneling and also causes a slow "wandering", in time, of the energy levels associated with domain wall motion inside the pinning potential. This effect is fairly weak in $Ni$- and $Fe$- based magnets, and we give an approximate treatment of its effect on the tunneling dynamics, as well as a discussion of the relationship to recent domain wall tunneling experiments.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Effects of Phonons and Nuclear Spins on the Tunneling of a Domain Wall will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-422457