1. Collective out-of-plane magnetization reversal in tilted stripe domain systems via a single point of irreversibility
- Author
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(0009-0002-6157-0464) Heinig, P., (0000-0001-8461-0743) Salikhov, R., (0000-0002-9971-0824) Samad, F., (0000-0002-5181-5272) Fallarino, L., (0009-0009-8149-2919) Patel, G. I., (0000-0002-3195-219X) Kakay, A., (0000-0002-7423-0840) Kiselev, N. S., (0000-0002-1351-5623) Hellwig, O., (0009-0002-6157-0464) Heinig, P., (0000-0001-8461-0743) Salikhov, R., (0000-0002-9971-0824) Samad, F., (0000-0002-5181-5272) Fallarino, L., (0009-0009-8149-2919) Patel, G. I., (0000-0002-3195-219X) Kakay, A., (0000-0002-7423-0840) Kiselev, N. S., and (0000-0002-1351-5623) Hellwig, O.
- Abstract
Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy thin film systems are well known for their periodic magnetic stripe domain structures. In this study, we focus on investigating the behavior of [Co(3.0 nm)/Pt(0.6 nm)]X multilayers within the transitional regime from preferred in-plane to out-of-plane magnetization orientation. Particularly, we examine the sample with X = 11 repetitions, which exhibits a remanent state characterized by a significant presence of both out-of-plane (OOP) and in-plane (IP) magnetization components, here referred to as the “tilted” stripe domain state. Vector vibrating sample magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy are used to investigate this specific sample and its unusual out-of-plane reversal behavior. Through experimental data analysis and micromagnetic simulations of the tilted magnetization system, we identify a single point of irreversibility during an out-of-plane external magnetic field sweep. This behavior is qualitatively similar to the reversal of a Stoner-Wohlfarth particle or of an IP magnetized disk with remanent vortex structure, since both show distinct points of irreversibility as well. Such a collective response to an external field is typically not observed in conventional OOP or IP systems, where the reversal process often involves independent nucleation, propagation, and annihilation of individual domains. Finally, we show that our findings are not at all restricted to Co/Pt multilayers, but are a quite general feature of transitional in-plane to out-of-plane magnetization systems.
- Published
- 2024