Dynamic effect of overhangs and islands at the depinning transition in two-dimensional magnets

Nonsteady dynamics at the dynamic depinning transition in the two-dimensional Gaussian random-field Ising model

With large-scale Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the nonsteady relaxation at the dynamic depinning transition in the two-dimensional Gaussian random-field Ising model. The dynamic scaling behavior is carefully analyzed, and the transition fields as well as static and dynamic exponents are accurately determined based on the short-time dynamic scaling form. Different from the usual assumption, two distinguished growth processes of spatial correlation lengths for the velocity and height of the domain wall are found. Thus, the universality class of the depinning transition is established, which significantly differs from that of the quenched disorder equation but agrees with that of the recent experiment as well as other simulations works. Under the influence of the mesoscopic time regime, the crossover from the second-order phase transition to the first-order one is confirmed in the weak-disorder regime, yielding an abnormal disorder-dependent nature of the criticality.

Depinning phase transition of antiferromagnetic skyrmions with quenched disorder

Antiferromagnetic skyrmions are considered to be promising information carriers due to their attractive properties. Therefore, the pinning phenomenon of antiferromagnetic skyrmions is of great significance. With the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, we simulate the nonstationary dynamic behaviors of skyrmions driven by currents in a chiral antiferromagnetic thin film with quenched disorder. Based on the dynamic scaling forms, the critical current and static and dynamic critical exponents of the depinning phase transition are accurately determined. A theoretical analysis using Thiele's approach is presented in comparison with the numerical simulation. Unlike the ferromagnetic skyrmions, the critical current of the antiferromagnetic skyrmions is very sensitive to a small nonadiabatic coefficient. This is important for manipulating antiferromagnetic skyrmions and designing novel information processing devices.

Universality classes of the domain-wall creep motion driven by spin-transfer torques

With the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, we numerically simulate the creep motion of a magnetic domain wall driven by the adiabatic and nonadiabatic spin-transfer torques induced by the electric current. The creep exponent μ and the roughness exponent ζ are accurately determined from the scaling behaviors. The creep motions driven by the adiabatic and nonadiabatic spin-transfer torques belong to different universality classes. The scaling relation between μ and ζ based on certain simplified assumptions is valid for the nonadiabatic spin-transfer torque, while invalid for the adiabatic one. Our results are compatible with the experimental ones, but go beyond the existing theoretical prediction. Our investigation reveals that the disorder-induced pinning effect on the domain-wall rotation alters the universality class of the creep motion.

Universality of Critically Pinned Interfaces in Two-Dimensional Isotropic Random Media

Based on extensive simulations, we conjecture that critically pinned interfaces in two-dimensional isotropic random media with short-range correlations are always in the universality class of ordinary percolation. Thus, in contrast to interfaces in >2 dimensions, there is no distinction between fractal (i.e., percolative) and rough but nonfractal interfaces. Our claim includes interfaces in zero-temperature random field Ising models (both with and without spontaneous nucleation), in heterogeneous bootstrap percolation, and in susceptible-weakened-infected-removed epidemics. It does not include models with long-range correlations in the randomness and models where overhangs are explicitly forbidden (which would imply nonisotropy of the medium).

Nonsteady dynamic properties of a domain wall for the creep state under an alternating driving field

With Monte Carlo simulations, the nonsteady dynamic properties of a domain wall have been systematically investigated for the thermally activated creep state under an alternating driving field. Taking the driven random-field Ising model in two dimensions as an example, two distinct growth stages of the domain interface are identified with both the correlation length and roughness function. One stage belongs to the universality class of the random depositions, and the other to that of the quenched Edwards-Wilkinson equation. In the latter case, due to the dynamic effect of overhangs, the domain interface may exhibit an intrinsic anomalous scaling behavior, different from that of the quenched Edwards-Wilkinson equation.

Dynamic approach to finite-temperature magnetic phase transitions in the extended J1-J2 model with vacancy order

The recently discovered iron-based superconductors A(y)Fe(2-x)Se(2) (A=K, Rb, Cs, Tl) show a long-range antiferromagnetic order with an unexpectedly high transition temperature T(N)~550 K and a unique √5×√5 vacancy order. Taking the extended J(1)-J(2) model as a minimal model, we investigate the finite-temperature magnetic phase transitions in a square lattice with a √5×√5 vacancy superstructure by using large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. By the parallel tempering technique, the block spin checkerboard and stripe antiferromagnetic states are detected to be the ground states for three representative sets of model parameters. The short-time dynamic approach is applied to accurately determine the critical temperature as well as the static and dynamic exponents. Our results indicate that the dramatic enhancement of the critical temperature as observed in experiments should be mainly due to a combination of the vacancy order and the block lattice contraction.

Depinning phase transition in the two-dimensional clock model with quenched randomness

With Monte Carlo simulations, we systematically investigate the depinning phase transition in the two-dimensional driven random-field clock model. Based on the short-time dynamic approach, we determine the transition field and critical exponents. The results show that the critical exponents vary with the form of the random-field distribution and the strength of the random fields, and the roughening dynamics of the domain interface belongs to the new subclass with ζ≠ζ(loc)≠ζ(s) and ζ(loc)≠1. More importantly, we find that the transition field and critical exponents change with the initial orientations of the magnetization of the two ordered domains.