Research project: Computational Micromagnetics

Southampton has a long standing track record and active research programme in computational micromagnetics, including

• Design and implementation of the Python-based Nmag finite-element simulation tool [1]
• Contributions to the OOMMF simulation framework: higher order anisotropy extension modules
• Supporting 3d visualisation of OOMMF simulation resuls through ovf2vtk
• Development of the Macro Geometry (more flexible periodic boundary conditions in micromagnetics) [see publications tab]
• Multi-physics micromagnetic simulations [5, 6]
• Creation of 'benchmarks' to improve reliability of micromagnetic simulations [7, 8]

Development of new techniques is typically driven by requirements from project partners from academia and industry. Sample outputs include the study of a superconducting nano element coated with a ferromagnetic layer where the superconductivity can be switched on and off through an external magnetic field [9 see publications tab], domain wall motion in a nanowire with edge roughness [10 see publications tab], the simulation of experimental work on 3d pyramidal ferromagnetic shapes [11].

[1] Nmag

[4] Hans Fangohr, Giuliano Bordignon, Matteo Franchin, Andreas Knittel, Peter A. J. de Groot, Thomas Fischbacher
A new approach to (quasi) periodic boundary conditions in micromagnetics: the macro geometry
Journal of Applied Physics 105, 07D529 (2009), http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/64103/

[5] Giuliano Bordignon, Thomas Fischbacher, Matteo Franchin, Jurgen P. Zimmermann, Alexander A. Zhukov, Vitali V. Metlushko, Peter A. J. de Groot, Hans Fangohr, Analysis of Magnetoresistance in Arrays of Connected Nano-Rings, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 43, 6, 2881-2883 (2007), http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/46710/

[6] Joule Heating, Hans Fangohr, Dmitri S. Chernyshenko, Matteo Franchin, Thomas Fischbacher, Guido Meier.
"Joule heating in nanowires", Physical Review B 84, 054437 (2011)

[7] Massoud Najafi, Benjamin Kruger, Stellan Bohlens, Matteo Franchin, Hans Fangohr, Antoine Vanhaverbeke, Rolf Allenspach, Markus Bolte, Ulrich Merkt, Daniela Pfannkuche, Dietmar P. F. Moller, and Guido Meier
Proposal for a Standard Problem for Micromagnetic Simulations Including Spin-Transfer Torque
Journal of Applied Physics 105, 113914 (2009),

[8] G. Venkat and D. Kumar and M. Franchin and O. Dmytriiev and M. Mruczkiewicz and H. Fangohr and A. Barman and M. Krawczyk and and A. Prabhakar
Proposal for a standard micromagnetic problem: Spin wave dispersion in a magnonic waveguide
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 49, 524-529 (2013), http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/351894/

[9] Andre Muller, Sara E. C. Dale, Miles A. Engbarth, Simon J. Bending, Laurence M. Peter, Andreas Knittel, and Hans Fangohr
Field-Tuneable Diamagnetism in Ferromagnetic-Superconducting Core-Shell Structures
Advanced Functional Materials 21, 1874-1880 (2011), http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/185149/

[10] Maximilian Albert, Matteo Franchin, Thomas Fischbacher, Guido Meier, and Hans Fangohr
Domain wall motion in perpendicular anisotropy nanowires with edge roughness
J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 24, 024219 (14 pages) (2012), http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/335910/

[11] A Knittel and M Franchin and T Fischbacher and F Nasirpouri and S J Bending and H Fangohr
Micromagnetic studies of three-dimensional pyramidal shell structures
New Journal of Physics 12, 113048 (23 pages) (2010),