title: Positive domain wall resistance of 180 degrees Néel walls in Co thin films.
abstract: We measured the intrinsic domain wall resistance (DWR) of 180 degrees Ne el walls in a polycrystalline Co thin film deposited on top of a patterned antiferromagnetic CoO template. After field cooling through the CoO blocking temperature, exchange bias induces a spatially modulated coercivity of the Co film, resulting in a periodic domain pattern with 180 degrees Ne el walls. The intrinsic DWR is determined unambiguously by using rotating magnetic fields that result in a reversible creation and annihilation of the Ne el walls. In contrast with earlier reports, the DWR is positive and in agreement with models based on the giant magnetoresistance mechanism. A reliable, quantitative determination of the DWR requires careful numerical evaluation of the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium voor Vaste-Stoffysica en Magnetisme, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium. dieter.buntinx@fys.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buntinx
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brems
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volodin
authors.forename: Kristiaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Temst
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Haesendonck