Dynamics of high-velocity domain wall motion and spin wave excitation in trilayer structures

Propagation of dipolar-coupled transverse domain walls in a permalloy/non-magnetic/permalloy trilayer was investigated using micromagnetic modeling. Circulating stray fields meant that the walls adopted a composite structure with behavior analogous to walls seen in nanotubes. Wall velocities were sensitive to the chirality of the stray field circulation, with velocities of the most favored chirality enhanced by 32% compared with velocities seen in the individual constituent layers just below their Walker breakdown field. Additionally, Walker breakdown was completely suppressed within the trilayer for both chiralities, despite occurring in the constituent layers when modelled in isolation, leading to a maximum of 317% velocity enhancement. Wall velocity saturated around 1100 m/s due to the Cherenkov-like emission of spin waves, comparable to the magnonic regime of nanotubes. By reproducing the advantageous domain wall dynamics of nanotubes within a planar system, we demonstrate that ultrafast magnetic switching may feasibly be realized within a lithographically produced system. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.