Domain Walls and Wall Structure

Abstract

The concept of a magnetic domain wall is as fundamental to the domain theory as the domains themselves. The original formulation of what we now call a Bloch Wall assumed an infinite sample, an energy of both exchange and anisotropy and recognized that the lowest energy would be when the demagnetizing field across the wall was zero. Straight forward energy minimization using the Ritz method calculated a finite, stable transition region between domains. The width of the wall was when the the exchange energy just balanced the energy from anisotropy. The total energy was the sum of these two equal parts. The theory seemed clear, complete(1).