We show that an applied charge current in a magnetic nanowire containing domain walls (DWs) results in an interaction between DWs mediated by spin-dependent interferences of the scattered carriers. The energy and torque associated with this interaction show an oscillatory behavior as a function of the mutual DW orientations and separations, thus affecting the DWs’ arrangements and shapes. Based on the derived DWs interaction energy and torque we calculate DW dynamics and uncover potential applications of interacting DWs as a tunable nanomechanical oscillator. We also discuss the effect of impurities on the DW interaction.

• Received 30 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.174422