Reversal of patterned Co/Pd multilayers with graded magnetic anisotropy

Abstract

Magnetization reversal and the effect of patterning have been investigated in full-film and dot arrays of Co/Pd multilayers, using the first-order reversal curve and scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis techniques. The effect of patterning is most pronounced in low sputtering pressure films, where the size of contiguous domains is larger than the dot size. Upon patterning, each dot must have its own domain nucleation site and domain propagation is limited within the dot. In graded anisotropy samples, the magnetically soft layer facilitates the magnetization reversal, once the reverse domains have nucleated.

Deposition order dependent magnetization reversal in pressure graded Co/Pd films

“…,19,27 At low Ar pressures, the sputtered atoms Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: kailiu@ucdavis.edu.…”

Nanostructured high magnetic anisotopy Pt-TM (TM=Co, Fe, Cr) films

“…domain, exchange decoupled system, but with electrically connected magnetic entities [50]. Furthermore, similar suppression of domain motion has been reported in 1.4μm circular dot arrays of graded Co/Pd multilayers [212]. Interestingly it was shown that domains continue to exist within each Co/Pd dot.…”

Soliton propagation in micron-sized magnetic ratchet elements

“…7 The interlayer dipole interactions are ferromagnetic, causing a reduction in the switching field, however for 3 lm elements we only expect a decrease of the order of $10 Oe (calculated by the macrospin approximation on square structures 15 with M s ¼ 1.3 Â10 3 emu/cm 3 , magnetic layer thickness of 0.75 nm and the average distance between magnetic layers of 2.14 nm in our stack.). In general, patterning the film to the element sizes in the range studied here leads to increases in H c , 12,13,16 whilst the strength of the interlayer couplings is likely to decrease due to edge effects. 12,17,18 However, within the errors of the measurement, H c and interlayer coupling remain constant as a function of size in this study.…”