Figure 4

A method to switch the chirality of a vortex domain wall by applying strain locally. A schematic representation of a device element for reversing the chirality of a vortex domain wall in a nanowire fabricated on a piezoelectric substrate. A voltage applied to the electrodes induces a mechanical strain and a uniaxial anisotropy favouring an easy axis transverse to the wire. (a), A vortex domain wall positioned at the edge of the electrode region is transformed to a flux closure domain pattern near the electrodes (b). (c), Relaxation of the induced anisotropy leads to the formation of a vortex domain wall with the opposite chirality to the initial domain wall.