Magnetization processes in rectangular versus rhombic planar superlattices of magnetic bars

Abstract

Rectangular and rhombic patterned superlattices of magnetic bar elements have been experimentally studied and theoretically modeled in order to analyze the role of the array geometry in their magnetization reversal and coercivity. The results show that a dominating part of the coercive field (≈250 Oe) is due to the reversal processes within a single bar element (independent of the array geometry) which is well described by the standard micromagnetic calculation. Otherwise, a smaller (≈60 Oe) but significant difference between the magnetization loops in the two geometries is related to the magnetostatic coupling effects between the bars and it is reasonably accounted for with a simple model of Coulomb-like interaction between terminal magnetic charges. The possibility to use this geometry effect to control the performance of artificial magnetic media is discussed.