title: Transition to linear domain walls in nanoconstrictions.
abstract: Domain walls in nanoconstrictions are investigated with a focus on thermal properties. In general, the magnetization component perpendicular to the easy axis which in a domain wall usually occurs has a value different from the easy-axis bulk magnetization value with a separate phase transition at a critical temperature below the Curie temperature. Since this effect is the more pronounced the smaller the domain wall width is, we investigate it especially in domain walls with a confined geometry, using analytical arguments, mean-field theory, and Monte Carlo simulations. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of magnetoresistive effects in domain walls with sizes of only a few atomic layers, as, e.g., in nanocontacts or nanoconstrictions.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 47048 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazantseva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wieser
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nowak