Magnetization reversal dynamics in Au/Co/Au(111) ultrathin films: Effect of roughness of the buffer layer

Abstract: We present a study of the magnetization reversal dynamics in ultrathin Au/Co/Au films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, for a Co thickness of 0.5, 0.7 and 1nm. In these films, the magnetization reversal is dominated by domain nucleation for t Co=0.5, 0.7nm and by domain wall propagation for tCo=1nm. The prevalence of domain nucleation for the thickness range 0.5–0.7nm is different from results reported in the literature, for the same system and for the same thickness range, where the magnetization reversal took place mainly by domain wall motion. We attribute this difference to the effect of roughness of the Au buffer layer on the morphology of the magnetic layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]