Nanoscale mechanics of antiferromagnetic domain walls

Antiferromagnets can encode information in their ordered magnetic structure, providing the basis for future spintronic devices1–3. The control and understanding of antiferromagnetic domain walls, which are interfaces between domains with differing order parameter orientations, key ingredients advancing technologies. However, studies intrinsic mechanics individual walls difficult because they require sufficiently pure materials suitable experimental approaches to address on nanoscale. Here we nucleate isolated 180° a single crystal Cr2O3, prototypical collinear magnetoelectric antiferromagnet, study interaction topographic features fabricated sample. We demonstrate wall manipulation through resulting engineered energy landscape show that observed is governed by surface wall. propose topographically defined memory architecture based walls. Our results advance antiferromagnets. High-resolution magnetometry shows shape Cr2O3 determined energetic cost area. behave like elastic surfaces avoid thicker parts sample where would need be larger.