Anisotropic properties of spin avalanches in crystals of nanomagnets

Journal article, 2013

Anisotropy effects for spin avalanches in crystals of nanomagnets are studied theoretically with the external magnetic field applied at an arbitrary angle to the easy axis. Starting with the Hamiltonian for a single nanomagnet in the crystal, two essential quantities characterizing spin avalanches are calculated: the activation and Zeeman energies. The calculation is performed numerically for a wide range of angles and analytical formulas are derived within the limit of small angles. The anisotropic properties of a single nanomagnet lead to anisotropic behavior of the magnetic deflagration speed. Modifications of the magnetic deflagration speed are investigated for different angles between the external magnetic field and the easy axis of the crystals. Anisotropic properties of magnetic detonation are also studied, which concern, first of all, the temperature behind the leading shock and the characteristic time of spin switching in the detonation.