Effect of “Refraction” of Magnetic Domain Boundaries at Electrical Inhomogeneities

Abstract

A magnetoelectric effect, which manifests itself as a “refraction” of domain walls at the location of an electrode deposited on the surface of an iron garnet film, is studied. The “refractive index” depends on the electric voltage applied to the electrode and varies from 0.6 to 1.2. An electrically induced change in the surface energy of a domain wall due to an inhomogeneous magnetoelectric coupling is suggested as the mechanism of this effect.