title: Domain wall interactions at a cross-shaped vertex.
abstract: The interaction of two domain walls (DWs) at a cross-shaped vertex fabricated from two ferromagnetic nanowires has been experimentally investigated. Both magnetostatically repulsive and attractive interactions have been probed. It is found that in the repulsive case, a passing DW may directly induce the depinning of another that is already pinned at a vertex. This effect can be qualitatively described by considering only simple, magnetostatic-charge-based arguments. In the attractive case, however, asymmetric pinning is found, with complete suppression of depinning possible. This observed effect is contrary to simple charge-based arguments and highlights the need for full micromagnetic characterization of the DW interactions in more complex systems.
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Magnetism Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. laobrien@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beguivin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Pacheco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cowburn