Phase-field simulation of electric-field-induced in-plane magnetic domain switching in magnetic/ferroelectric layered heterostructures

The electric-field-induced in-plane magnetic domain switching in magnetic/ferroelectric (FE) layered heterostructures was studied using phase-field simulations. In particular, we chose the CoFe(2)O(4) (CFO) magnetic film and the Pb(Zn(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) (PZN-PT) FE layer as a representative example due to their strong respective magnetoelastic and piezoelectric couplings. In-plane 90 degrees magnetic domain switching in the CFO film was observed when a transverse electric field was applied to the PZN-PT layer. The detailed switching behaviors as well as the corresponding magnetic domain structures are presented for CFO films with different geometric sizes and initial magnetization configurations. The effect of a dynamic electric field on the switching process, i.e., a time-dependent electric-field-induced magnetic domain switching, is also discussed. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3600203]