Asymmetric domain nucleation and unusual magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films with perpendicular anisotropy

Y. L. Iunin; Y. P. Kabanov; V. I. Nikitenko; X. M. Cheng; D. Clarke; O. A. Tretiakov; O. Tchernyshyov; A. J. Shapiro; R. D. Shull; C. L. Chien

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.117204

Asymmetric domain nucleation and unusual magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films with perpendicular anisotropy

Y. L. Iunin, Y. P. Kabanov, V. I. Nikitenko, X. M. Cheng, D. Clarke, O. A. Tretiakov, O. Tchernyshyov, A. J. Shapiro, R. D. Shull, C. L. Chien

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report unexpected phenomena during magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films and Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy and magnetic force microscopy we have observed asymmetrical nucleation centers where the reversal begins for one direction of the field only and is characterized by an acute asymmetry of domain-wall mobility. We have also observed magnetic domains with a continuously varying average magnetization, which can be explained in terms of the coexistence of three magnetic phases: up, down, and striped.

Original language	English
Article number	117204
Journal	Physical review letters
Volume	98
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.117204
Publication status	Published - 2007 Mar 16
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy(all)

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.117204

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title = "Asymmetric domain nucleation and unusual magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films with perpendicular anisotropy",

abstract = "We report unexpected phenomena during magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films and Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy and magnetic force microscopy we have observed asymmetrical nucleation centers where the reversal begins for one direction of the field only and is characterized by an acute asymmetry of domain-wall mobility. We have also observed magnetic domains with a continuously varying average magnetization, which can be explained in terms of the coexistence of three magnetic phases: up, down, and striped.",

author = "Iunin, {Y. L.} and Kabanov, {Y. P.} and Nikitenko, {V. I.} and Cheng, {X. M.} and D. Clarke and Tretiakov, {O. A.} and O. Tchernyshyov and Shapiro, {A. J.} and Shull, {R. D.} and Chien, {C. L.}",

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AU - Iunin, Y. L.

AU - Kabanov, Y. P.

AU - Nikitenko, V. I.

AU - Cheng, X. M.

AU - Clarke, D.

AU - Tretiakov, O. A.

AU - Tchernyshyov, O.

AU - Shapiro, A. J.

AU - Shull, R. D.

AU - Chien, C. L.

PY - 2007/3/16

Y1 - 2007/3/16

N2 - We report unexpected phenomena during magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films and Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy and magnetic force microscopy we have observed asymmetrical nucleation centers where the reversal begins for one direction of the field only and is characterized by an acute asymmetry of domain-wall mobility. We have also observed magnetic domains with a continuously varying average magnetization, which can be explained in terms of the coexistence of three magnetic phases: up, down, and striped.

AB - We report unexpected phenomena during magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films and Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy and magnetic force microscopy we have observed asymmetrical nucleation centers where the reversal begins for one direction of the field only and is characterized by an acute asymmetry of domain-wall mobility. We have also observed magnetic domains with a continuously varying average magnetization, which can be explained in terms of the coexistence of three magnetic phases: up, down, and striped.

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Asymmetric domain nucleation and unusual magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films with perpendicular anisotropy

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