Intrinsic Coupling between Current and Domain Wall Motion in (Ga,Mn)As

Kjetil M. D Hals, Anh Kiet Nguyen, Arne Brataas

Published 2008-11-13, updated 2009-06-27Version 2

We consider current-induced domain wall motion and, the reciprocal process, moving domain wall-induced current. The associated Onsager coefficients are expressed in terms of scattering matrices. Uncommonly, in (Ga,Mn)As, the effective Gilbert damping coefficient $\alpha_w$ and the effective out-of-plane spin transfer torque parameter $\beta_w$ are dominated by spin-orbit interaction in combination with scattering off the domain wall, and not scattering off extrinsic impurities. Numerical calculations give $\alpha_w \sim 0.01$ and $\beta_w \sim 1$ in dirty (Ga,Mn)As. The extraordinary large $\beta_w$ parameter allows experimental detection of current or voltage induced by domain wall motion in (Ga,Mn)As.