Moving magnetic domain walls with sound alone

Alejandro Rivelles, Rocío Yanes, Luis Torres, Manuel Abuín, Javier Grandal, Maedeh Sepehr, Guzmán Orero-Gámez, Rodrigo Guedas, Laura Fernández-García, Raúl Izquierdo-López, Marco Maicas, Maria del Mar Sanz, Jorge Pedrós, Fernando Calle, Sandra Ruiz-Gómez, Muhammad Waqas Khaliq, Miguel Angel Niño, Saül Vélez, Michael Foerster, Luis López-Díaz and Jose Luis Prieto ()
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Alejandro Rivelles: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Rocío Yanes: Salamanca
Luis Torres: Salamanca
Manuel Abuín: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Javier Grandal: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Maedeh Sepehr: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Guzmán Orero-Gámez: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Rodrigo Guedas: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Laura Fernández-García: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Raúl Izquierdo-López: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Marco Maicas: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Maria del Mar Sanz: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Jorge Pedrós: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Fernando Calle: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Sandra Ruiz-Gómez: Cerdañola del Valles
Muhammad Waqas Khaliq: Cerdañola del Valles
Miguel Angel Niño: Cerdañola del Valles
Saül Vélez: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Michael Foerster: Cerdañola del Valles
Luis López-Díaz: Salamanca
Jose Luis Prieto: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Surface Acoustic Waves (SAW) have been used in spintronic applications to decrease the magnetic field or the electric current required to act on the magnetization. A common belief is that a SAW alone cannot achieve a directed magnetic switching in a device without an assisting magnetic field or electric current. In this work, we demonstrate magnetic domain wall motion driven solely by an acoustic wave. Using XMCD-PEEM, we show extensive evidence of SAW-induced and field-free magnetic domain wall motion (DW) in the direction of the wave propagation. Our micromagnetic simulations reveal a mechanism that allows the SAW to transfer linear momentum to the DW. Experimentally, the largest DW average velocity measured was ~12 m/s, although our simulations predict that velocities in the range of 100 m/s could be attained. This new mechanism opens the door to designing innovative spintronic devices where the magnetization can be controlled exclusively by an acoustic wave.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64934-6

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