Electrical Control of Anisotropic Ferromagnetic Domains During Antiferromagnetic-Ferromagnetic Phase Transition

Current-driven domain-wall motion has attracted intense attention, due to its rich physics and promising application in ``racetrack'' nonvolatile memory. However, the interplay between antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic (AFM/FM) phase boundaries and current has remained elusive. To investigate, the authors use pulses of current to induce the formation of anisotropic FM domains in an AFM matrix. The phase boundaries can be reversibly oriented by the applied (writing) current, giving rise to the orthogonal alignment of phase boundaries and current, which could pave the way for multistage digital memory based on AFM/FM boundaries.