Domain-wall free energy in Heisenberg ferromagnets

Abstract

We consider Gaussian fluctuations about domain walls embedded in one- or two-dimensional spin lattices. Analytic expressions for the free energy of one domain wall are obtained. From these, the temperature dependence of experimentally relevant spatial scales -- i.e., the correlation length for spin chains and the size of magnetic domains for thin films magnetized out of plane -- are deduced. Stability of chiral order inside domain walls against thermal fluctuations is also discussed.