The angular dependence of Neel wall resistance by magnetotransport in the centipedelike Permalloy structures

Abstract

The angular dependence of Neel wall resistance has been studied by measuring the in-plane magnetoresistances (MRs) of the centipedelike Permalloy (Py) structure, which consists of a central wire with numerous orthogonally bisecting finger wires. All Py wires were designed to have a single domain structure at remanence and high anisotropy by the geometric control. The remanent domain at the junction between the central and finger wires is determined by the anisotropy constants of both wires and hence, variable angles of Neel wall can be achieved. Using a simple resistance-in-series model in corporation with the anisotropic MR effect, the analyses of the longitudinal and transverse MRs of the centipedelike structure give the domain wall resistance. Our results show that the Neel wall resistance is about milliohm and decreases with decreasing the relative angle between two domains. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3068629]