From stripes to bubbles: Deterministic transformation of magnetic domain patterns in Co/Pt multilayers induced by laser helicity

The optical control of magnetism offers an attractive possibility to manipulate small magnetic domains for prospective memory devices on ultrashort time scales. Here, we report on the local deterministic transformation of the magnetic domain pattern from stripes to bubbles in out-of-plane magnetized Co/Pt multilayers controlled only by the helicity of ultrashort laser pulses. Relying on the experimentally determined average size of stripe domains and the magnetic layer thickness, we calculate the temperature and characteristic fields at which the stripe-bubble transformation occurs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in the narrow range of the laser power, the helicity induces a drag on domain walls.