Magnetization dynamics triggered by surface acoustic waves

Investigations into fast magnetization switching are of both fundamental and technological interest. Here we present a low-power, remote method for strain driven magnetization switching. A surface acoustic wave propagates across an array of ferromagnetic elements, and the resultant strain switches the magnetization from the easy axis into the hard axis direction. Investigations as a function of applied magnetic field as well as unidirectional anisotropy (the exchange bias) reveal excellent agreement with prediction, confirming the viability of this method. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3521289]