Magnetic nanostructures provide the opportunity to investigate a number ofmagnetic phenomena, and are of interest for their possible future applicationsin technology. In this project, the ferromagnetic response (FMR) of magnetic nanostructures to an electromagnetic excitation has been investigated using the micromagnetic simulations program Mumax3. The magnetic nanostructures in question were lattices of stadium shaped magnetic islands known as square articial spin ice. They are often characterized by the vortex in which four islands meet. Depending on the number of magnetic moment directed inwards or outwards from the vortex, four main vortex types can be created according to their magnetic energy. Lattices of square articial spin ice can exhibit articial magnetic monopoles connected by Dirac strings. Four congurations of square articial spin ice were investigated: a single stadium shaped island, two single vertices of different types, a lattice of 24 magnetic islands with two different spacings and types of center vertices, and a lattice of 60 magnetic islands for the case of inserted Dirac strings. The FMR spectra of these structures reveal several resonant modes of different intensities and frequencies. Of particular interest is the relationship between the intensity of a particular resonant mode and the number of inserted stings of reversed magnetization for the 4-by-4 lattice.

Les réseaux de nanoaimants à frustration géométrique font l'objet d'investigations depuis maintenant une décennie. Ils permettent de réaliser expérimentalement des modèles de spins théoriques qui n'ont parfois pas d'équivalent naturel. Ces réseaux présentent, entre autres, l'intérêt d'offrir un accès direct aux configurations locales de spin. Le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit vise à réaliser expérimentalement le modèle dit de "glace carrée" dans un réseau nanoaimants. Ce modèle hautement frustré présente un état fondamental massivement dégénéré, à l'origine de son entropie résiduelle à basse température. Dans ce travail, nous allons présenter deux approches permettant de réaliser le modèle de glace carrée.La première consiste à introduire dans le réseau carré conventionnel des nanoaimants supplémentaires. Sous certaines conditions, ceux-ci agissent en modifiant les couplages effectifs entre les aimants du réseau principal. Pour cela, les aimants additionnels doivent se comporter passivement vis à vis du réseau principal. Dans une étude théorique, nous montrerons que l'analyse du hamiltonien dans l'espace réciproque échoue à saisir les propriétés essentielles de ce nouveau modèle. C'est en calculant l'énergie de configurations aléatoires de spins que nous prouverons que notre système présente les caractéristiques recherchées. Nous porterons une attention particulière à l'effet de la portée et de la nature des interactions entre aimants. Grâce à des simulations micromagnétiques par différences finies, nous déterminerons les géométries pertinentes à employer pour une réalisation expérimentale. Grâce aux outils de microfabrication disponibles au laboratoire, nous avons pu fabriquer de tels réseaux. Les aimants sont constitués de permalloy mince, ce qui leur permet d'atteindre un régime superparamagnétique lors d'un recuit thermique. Nous avons observé que les aimants additionnels influencent comme prévu la physique du réseau carré. Un biais expérimental a cependant engendré une aimantation rémanente élevée dans certains réseaux. Cet effet a malheureusement masqué les corrélations caractéristiques attendues dans le modèle de glace carrée. Mais ces travaux ont permis de mettre en évidence un effet inattendu des aimants additionnels. Ceux-ci semblent stimuler les fluctuations thermiques dans les réseaux qui en sont pourvus.La seconde approche consiste à surélever les aimants orientés dans l'une des deux directions du réseau carré. Nous emploierons une méthodologie similaire à celle décrite précédemment pour l'étude de ce nouveau système. Théoriquement, le contrôle de la surélévation permet d'explorer trois modèles de spins différents, dont le modèle de glace carrée. Nous avons fabriqué des réseaux avec plusieurs surélévations, estimées au moyen de simulations micromagnétiques. Pour des raisons techniques, nous avons cette fois travaillé avec des nanoaimants de permalloy épais. Ils présentent la caractéristique d'être athermiques. Les fluctuations sont alors introduites grâce à un champ magnétique tournant et décroissant. Nous montrerons par des simulations que cette dynamique particulière stimule l'apparition de corrélations ferromagnétiques. La désaimantation réduit alors les surélévations nécessaires à la réalisation du modèle de glace carrée. Nous avons observé expérimentalement que l'effet de la surélévation est parfaitement cohérent avec nos prévisions. Les facteurs de structure que nous avons obtenus prouvent que nous avons réussi à réaliser le modèle de glace avec des nanoaimants. Cette approche nous a permis d'observer pour la première fois une phase de Coulomb dans l'espace direct. Ce travail ouvre des perspectives intéressantes pour l'étude des excitations existant dans cette phase, analogues à des monopoles magnétiques classiques. / Since a decade, a big interest has grown about geometrically frustrated nanomagnets arrays. They allow experimental realisation of theoretical spin models, that sometimes have no natural counterpart. In addition to their high flexibility, these networks provide a direct access to local spin configurations. The work presented in this manuscript aims to realise experimentally the so-called "square ice" model, using nanomagnets array. This highly frustrated model has already been theoretically studied. It is found to have a massively degenerated ground state, associated to a residual entropy at low temperature. In this thesis, we present two approaches that should achieve the square ice model.The first one consists to introduce additional magnets in the conventional square nanomagnets array. They can act through an effective coupling between the magnets of the initial network. The condition required is that additional magnets should behave passively against main magnets. We will show in a theoretical study that a reciprocal space analysis of the Hamiltonian fails to grasp the essential properties of the new model. By computing the energy of a number of random spins configurations, we will show that the square ice model can be achieved. A special attention will be paid to the influence of the range and the nature of magnets interactions. Using finite-difference micromagnetic simulations, we will determine the geometries adapted to an experimental realisation. We were able to make such networks using the microfabrication tools available in the laboratory. Our magnets are made of thin permalloy films. This allows the magnets to reach a superparamagnetic regime during a thermal annealing. We observed that additional magnets have the expected influence on square nanomagnets arrays. However, an experimental bias caused a high residual magnetisation in some networks. This effect has unfortunately hided the correlations expected in the square ice model. But this work shown an unexpected effect. Additional magnets appear to enhance thermal fluctuations in the networks.The second approach is to raise the magnets oriented in one of the two directions of the square lattice. For the study of this new system, a methodology similar to that described above will be used. Theoretically, the control of the elevation can explore three different spins models, including the square ice model. We made arrays for different elevations, estimated by micromagnetic calculations. For technical reasons, we worked with thick permalloy nanomagnets. Their thickness makes them insensitive to thermal fluctuations. Fluctuations are then introduced using a decreasing rotating magnetic field. Our simulations show that this particular dynamic stimulates emergence of ferromagnetic correlations. The field demagnetisation then reduce the elevations required for achieving the square ice model. We have experimentally observed that the elevation has an effect perfectly consistent with our previsions. Experimental structure factors show that we succeed to achieve the square ice model with nanomagnets. This approach allowed us to observe, for the first time, a Coulomb phase in the real space. This work opens interesting perspectives for studying the excitations of this phase. It has previously been shown that they are similar to classical magnetic monopoles.

L'étude de la dynamique des parois de domaines dans les nano-systèmes ferromagnétiques est cruciale pour le développement des dispositifs de stockage de l'information basés sur le déplacement et le contrôle des parois. Ces dispositifs ont plusieurs avantages : non-volatilité, rapidité d'exécution, haute densité de stockage, et faible consommation de l'énergie. En utilisant des méthodes micro-magnétiques et analytiques, nous avons constaté que l'interaction entre deux parois affectait les processus de dépiégeage sous champ magnétique, dans des nanofils en nickel à géométrie cylindrique et planaire. Nous avons mis en évidence des comportements non linéaires de la dynamique d'une paroi piégée, qui varient selon le matériau et le type de piège utilisé. Les diagrammes de phases représentant l'exposant de Lyapunov ont permis la distinction entre des zones chaotiques et périodiques, en fonction de la fréquence et de l'amplitude d'une excitation harmonique. Nous avons présenté des résultats sur la manipulation précise d'une paroi transverse sous impulsions de courant dans un nanofil planaire en nickel, structuré par une multitude de défauts artificiels. Nous avons montré que le positionnement exact de la paroi à température ambiante est possible uniquement pour des impulsions symétriques de très courte durée. Des effets inertiels pouvant s'opposer au couple de transfert de spin, ou au contraire l'amplifier ont été observés. Ces derniers résultats ouvrent une route vers le déplacement des parois dans les deux directions par des impulsions unipolaires de courant. / The study of the domain wall dynamics in ferromagnetic nano-systems is crucial for the developement of data-storage devices based on control and displacement of the domain walls. These devices have several advantages : non-volatility, fast execution time, high density, and low power consumption. Using micromagnetics and analytical methods, we have shown that the interaction between two domain walls influences the depinning process under magnetic field, in cylindrical and planar shaped nickel nanowires. We highlighted the nonlinear behaviour of the dynamics of a pinned domain wall, which varies with the material properties and the type of the pinning sites. The Lyapunov phase diagrams display chaotic and periodic regions function of the amplitude and frequency of a harmonic excitation. We have also presented results about the precise manipulation of transverse domain walls by current pulses in a nickel planar nanowire with artificial defects. We have shown that exact positioning of the domain walls at room temperature is possible only for very short symmetric current pulses. We observed inertial effects which can oppose or amplify the spin transfert torque effect. These results open a route to domain wall displacement in both directions with unipolar current pulses.

La maîtrise du procédé de fabrication des aciers DP, en particulier le contrôle du cycle thermique est nécessaire afin pour l'obtention de microstructures biphasées et la reproductibilité des caractéristiques mécaniques et des propriétés d'usage attendues. Cette maîtrise passe par la mise en place de moyens de contrôle non destructifs de l'état microstructural en ligne permettant la détection d'irrégularités de la microstructure signes d'irrégularité du traitement thermique. Ce constat a donc conduit ARCELORMITTAL à mettre en place des moyens de contrôle non destructif en ligne permettant le contrôle de l'état microstructural par mesure magnétique. Pour que la mesure magnétique donne des informations précises sur l’état microstructural, une description mathématique fine des liens entre microstructure et propriétés magnétiques en ligne est recherchée. L'objectif fixé est d'arriver à prédire, sinon d'une façon quantitative, au moins d'une façon qualitative fine, la réponse magnétique à divers paramètres des microstructures d'aciers DP industriels dans le cadre d'une simulation micromagnétique magnéto-mécanique. Nous introduisons une formulation statique du couplage magnéto-mécanique basée sur la minimisation d’une fonctionnelle énergétique couplée à la résolution des équations de la mécanique des milieux continus. / The control of the manufacturing process of DP steels, in particular the control of the thermal cycle is necessary for obtaining Dual Phase microstructures and the reproducibility of the mechanical characteristics and the user properties. This control requires an online monitoring of the microstructural state. This allows the detection of irregularities of the microstructure and thus the irregularities of the heat treatment. This report thus led ARCELORMITTAL to set up an online non destructive evaluation of the microstructural state by magnetic measurement. So that magnetic measurement gives accurate informations on the microstructural state, a fine mathematical description of the links between microstructure and the online magnetic properties is required. The main objective is to manage to predict, if not in a quantitative way, at least in a fine qualitative way, the magnetic answer to various parameters of the industrial steel DP microstructures within the framework of a micromagnetism simulation. We introduce a static formalism of magnetomechanical coupling based on the energy functional minimization coupled with the resolution of the continuum mechanic equations.

In paleomagnetism, practical measurements are rarely made using perfect, isolated, single-phase, ferromagnetic crystals. Experimental observations are typically made using magnetic materials formed by a variety of natural processes. In this thesis, we will look at bridging the gap between current numerical modelling capability and experimental observations. First, we work towards micromagnetic modelling of multi-phase magnetic materials, including magnetostriction, embedded in a rocky matrix, along with crystal defects. We present a derivation of the Boundary Element Method formulation used by the micromagnetics package, MERRILL, and provide an extension of this from single-phase materials to multi-phase. After discussing issues with previous approaches to modelling magnetostriction, we derive and present a more robust and flexible approach. This model of magnetostriction is suitable for non-uniformmagnetizations, for multi-phase materials, and for arbitrary boundary conditions, and can be incorporated into MERRILL.We then outline a method for extending our model to materials embedded in an infinite elastic matrix of arbitrary elasticity. Finally, we present a method for modelling the magnetic response of a material due to crystal defects, along with a concrete example of a magneto-dislocation coupling energy at a magnetite-ilmenite boundary where stress due to lattice misfit is eased by regular edge dislocations. Second, we work towards being able to verify micromagnetic models against nano-scale experimental data. To do this, we present two techniques for simulating electron holograms from micromagnetic modelling results, a technique capable of imaging magnetic structures at the nano-scale. We also present example electron holograms of commonly occurring magnetic structures in nano-scale rock and mineral magnetism, and highlight some distinguishing features, which may be useful for interpreting experimental electron holography data.

Magnetic nanoscale devices have shown great promise in both research and industry. Magnetic nanostructures have potential for non-volatile data storage applications, reconfigurable logic devices, biomedical devices and many more. The S-state magnetic element is one of the promising structures for non-volatile data storage applications and reconfigurable logic devices. It is a single-layer logic element that can be integrated in magnetoresistive structures. We present a detailed micromagnetic analysis of the geometrical parameter space in which the logic operation is carried out. The influence of imperfections, such as sidewall roughness and roundness of the edge is investigated. Magnetic nanowires are highly attractive materials that has potential for applications in ultrahigh magnetic recording, logic operation devices, and micromagnetic and spintronic sensors. To utilize applications, manipulation and assembly of nanowires into ordered structures is needed. Magnetic self-alignment is a facile technique for assembling nanowires into hierarchical structures. In my thesis, I focus on synthesizing and assembling nickel nanowires. The magnetic behaviour of a single nickel nanowire with 200~nm diameter is investigated in micromagnetic simulations. Nickel nanowires with Au caps at the ends were synthesized by electrochemical deposition into nanopores in alumina templates. One-dimensional alignment, which forms chains and two-dimensional alignment, which forms T-junctions as well as cross-junctions are demonstrated. Attempts to achieve three-dimensional alignment were not successful yet. I will discuss strategies to improve the alignment process.

Even though silicon technology is dominant today, the physics (quantum electron tunneling effect), design (power dissipation, wire delays) and the manufacturing (lithography resolution) limitations of CMOS technology are pushed towards the scaling end. These issues motivated us towards a new paradigm that contributes to a continued advancement in terms of performance, density, and cost. The magnetic field coupled computing (MFC) paradigm, which is one of the regimes where we leverage and utilize the neighbor interaction of the nanomagnets to order the single-domain magnetic cells to perform computational tasks. The most important and attractive features of this technology are: 1) room temperature operation, which has been a limitation in electrostatic field coupled devices, 2) high density and nonetheless 3) low static power dissipation. It will be intriguing to address queries like, what are the challenges posed by the technology with such exotic features? Answer to such questions would become the focus of this doctoral research. The fundamental problem with magnetic field coupled devices is the directional flow of information from input to output. In this work, we have proposed a novel spatially moving Landauer clock system for MFC nanomagnet array which has an advantage over existing adiabatic clock system. Extensive simulation studies were done to model and validate the clock for different length, size, and shape of nanomagnet array. Another key challenge is the manufacturing defect, which leads to uncertainty and unreliability issues. We studied the different dominant types of geometric defects (missing material, missing cell, spacing, bulge, and merging) in array (used as interconnects) based on our fabrication experiments. We also studied effect of these defects on different segments (locations) of the array with spatially moving clock. The study concluded that a spatially moving clock scheme constitutes a robust MFC architecture as location of defect and length of arrays does not play any role in error masking as opposed to conventional clock. Finally, the work presents the study on the 2D nanomagnet array for boolean logic computation and vision logic computation. The effect of dipole-dipole interaction on magnetization state transition in closely spaced 2D array of ferromagnetic circular nanomagnet was explored. The detailed design space to demarcate the boundary between single domain state and vortex state reveals that the single domain state space is desirable for Boolean logic computation while the space around the boundary would be appropriate for vision logic computing.

Magnetic nanoscale devices have shown great promise in both research and industry. Magnetic nanostructures have potential for non-volatile data storage applications, reconfigurable logic devices, biomedical devices and many more. The S-state magnetic element is one of the promising structures for non-volatile data storage applications and reconfigurable logic devices. It is a single-layer logic element that can be integrated in magnetoresistive structures. We present a detailed micromagnetic analysis of the geometrical parameter space in which the logic operation is carried out. The influence of imperfections, such as sidewall roughness and roundness of the edge is investigated. Magnetic nanowires are highly attractive materials that has potential for applications in ultrahigh magnetic recording, logic operation devices, and micromagnetic and spintronic sensors. To utilize applications, manipulation and assembly of nanowires into ordered structures is needed. Magnetic self-alignment is a facile technique for assembling nanowires into hierarchical structures. In my thesis, I focus on synthesizing and assembling nickel nanowires. The magnetic behaviour of a single nickel nanowire with 200~nm diameter is investigated in micromagnetic simulations. Nickel nanowires with Au caps at the ends were synthesized by electrochemical deposition into nanopores in alumina templates. One-dimensional alignment, which forms chains and two-dimensional alignment, which forms T-junctions as well as cross-junctions are demonstrated. Attempts to achieve three-dimensional alignment were not successful yet. I will discuss strategies to improve the alignment process.

In the thesis at hand, different concepts of magnetic recording were investigated both from an experimental and theoretical point of view. On the one hand, micromagnetic simulations of bit patterned media were performed examining the influence of magnetic and geometrical parameters on the magnetization reversal mechanism of the bit array. In this regard, the recording concept called exchange coupled composite (ECC) media was applied in combination with bit patterned media (BPM). It was demonstrated that ECC/BPM is superior in terms of narrowing the SFD which is vital for the implementation of BPM as a recording scheme in magnetic data storage deviced. Moreover, the stability of the magnetic state was calculated for single nanomagnets using the nudged elastic band algorithm. It was found out that the magnetic and geometrical properties have a severe influence on both, the energy barrier for magnetization reversal and the magnetization reversal process of the single nanomagnets. On the other hand, experimental studies of granular CoCrPt:SiO2 films deposited on self-assembled arrays of SiO2 nanoparticles with a size from 10 nm to 330 nm have been carried out, showing a distinct size-dependence of the coercive field and remanent magnetization with changing nanoparticle size. Moreover, these films have been irradiated with Co+ ions with different fluences, resulting in a change of the magnetic properties of the films due to both a change of the intergranular exchange coupling of the film and a degredation of the magnetic layers at higher irradiation fluences.

Axisymmetric magnetic strings with a fixed sense of rotation and nanometer sizes (chiral magnetic vortices or Skyrmions) have been predicted to exist in a large group of non-centrosymmetric crystals more than two decades ago. Recently these extraordinary magnetic states have been directly observed in thin layers of cubic helimagnet (Fe,Co)Si. In this thesis we apply our earlier theoretical findings and recent results to review main properties of chiral Skyrmions, to elucidate their physical nature, and to analyse these recent experimental results on magnetic-field-driven evolution of Skyrmions and helicoids in chiral helimagnets. Concentrating on the physical side of the problem rather than on mathematical details we give an elementary introduction into the properties of chiral Skyrmions in magnetism.