Domain wall configuration and magneto-transport properties in dual spin-valve with nanoconstriction

We investigated the effect of external field on magneto-transport properties of synthetic antiferromagnet dual spin-valve with nanoconstriction with focus on domain wall (DW) configuration and magnetization reversal process. As magnetic field rotated from in-plane to out-of-plane along hard axis configuration, the magnetization reversal mode changed from a vortex to a transverse type, and a multistep switching process appeared due to the development of a transverse magnetization reversal mode with DW pushing towards the higher anisotropy region. The difference in the shape of nanoconstriction made an asymmetric energy barrier to the DW propagation which resulted in an asymmetry depinning field. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4729126]