Intrinsic coupling between current and domain wall motion in (Ga,Mn)As

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jun 26;102(25):256601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.256601. Epub 2009 Jun 26.

Abstract

We consider current-induced domain wall motion and, the reciprocal process, moving domain wall-induced current. The associated Onsager coefficients are expressed in terms of scattering matrices. Uncommonly, in (Ga,Mn)As, the effective Gilbert damping coefficient alphaw and the effective out-of-plane spin-transfer torque parameter betaw are dominated by spin-orbit interaction in combination with scattering off the domain wall, and not scattering off extrinsic impurities. Numerical calculations give alphaw approximately 0.01 and betaw approximately 1 in dirty (Ga,Mn)As. The extraordinarily large betaw parameter allows experimental detection of current or voltage induced by domain wall motion in (Ga,Mn)As.