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Magnetization reversal in cobalt antidot arrays

2006; American Physical Society; Volume: 73; Issue: 21 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1103/physrevb.73.214429

1550-235X

L. J. Heyderman, F. Nolting, D. Backes, S. Czekaj, L. López-Dı́az, Mathias Kläui, U. Rüdiger, C. A. F. Vaz, J. A. C. Bland, R. J. Matelon, U. G. Volkmann, Peter Fischer,

Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials

We have carried out a detailed study of the magnetic switching in square lattice cobalt antidot arrays with periods ranging from $2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ down to $200\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ (antidot $\text{size}=\text{antidot}$ separation). Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements show first a small change in the magnetization due to a reversible rotation of the magnetic spins in the antidot rows, followed by a large change due to reversal of the antidot array columns parallel to the applied field. Employing x-ray photoemission electron microscopy and transmission x-ray microscopy, the latter irreversible process was observed as a nucleation and propagation of discrete domain chains. The propagating chain ends are blocked by perpendicular chains present in the antidot rows via various mechanisms revealed by micromagnetic simulations.