MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES AND METHODS

摘要

The disclosure relates to information storage using magnetic domains or magnetic domain walls, and relates to methods of moving, creating, detecting and transforming the structure of magnetic domain walls using mechanical strain induced by electric fields. Applications include information storage and processing devices with high energy efficiency and small dimensions. Example embodiments include a magnetic storage device (100) comprising: an electroactive element (103) comprising a piezoelectric or electrostrictive element having first and second electrodes (101) arranged to apply an electric field across the electroactive element (103) to induce a strain; and a magnetic wire (102) having a plurality of magnetic domains separated by domain walls, the magnetic wire (102) aligned along an axis and mechanically coupled to the electroactive element (103); wherein the first and second electrodes (101) are arranged such that the electric field is aligned in a direction having a component orthogonal to the axis (104) of the magnetic wire (102), a magnitude of the electric field having a gradient along the axis (104) of the magnetic wire (102) to cause movement of the magnetic domains along the axis (104) of the magnetic wire (102).