Micromagnetic simulations of magnetoelastic heterostructures

Abstract

The system formed by a 10 nm thin film of Ni and a 10 μm-thick V2O3 layer shows a reversible enhancement of the coercivity (∼300%) due to the structural phase transition (metal/insulator) of the V2O3layer. Performing micromagnetic simulations and comparing the results with experimental data we have studied the coupling mechanism on the Ni/V2O3 interface. We have proven that this coupling is responsible for the coercivity enhancement and that the magnetisation domains in the Ni do not follow exactly the metal/insulator domains on the V2O3. Finally, we have determined that the results of the simulations are in agreement with a phase coexistence in V2O3.