Evolution of stripe and bubble domains in antiferromagnetically coupled [(Co/Pt)8/Co/Ru]18 multilayers

Cristina Bran, Anna B. Butenko, Nikolai S. Kiselev, Ulrike Wolff, Ludwig Schultz, Olav Hellwig, Ulrich K. Rößler, Alexei N. Bogdanov, and Volker Neu
Phys. Rev. B 79, 024430 – Published 29 January 2009

Abstract

The magnetization process of antiferromagnetically coupled [(Co/Pt)8/Co/Ru]18 multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy is investigated via magnetic force microscopy at room temperature by imaging the domain configuration in magnetic fields. In the zero-field state, due to the perpendicular anisotropy, stripe domains characteristic for ferromagnetic coupling are observed. By increasing the external magnetic field, the domain configuration first modifies gradually, then transforms from continuous into isolated stripes, and changes in the end into bubbles, which collapse at higher fields. A theoretical model previously developed for bubble domains in single layer films is adapted for arbitrary complex multilayers and applied to the present layer architecture. The calculated values for strip-out and collapse fields compare well with the experimental results and demonstrate the validity of the theoretical description.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
1 More
  • Received 20 October 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.024430

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Cristina Bran1,2,*, Anna B. Butenko1,3, Nikolai S. Kiselev1,3, Ulrike Wolff1, Ludwig Schultz1, Olav Hellwig4, Ulrich K. Rößler1, Alexei N. Bogdanov1, and Volker Neu1

  • 1IFW Dresden, P.O. Box 270116, D-01171 Dresden, Germany
  • 2IMPRS “Dynamical Processes in Atoms, Molecules and Solids,” 01187 Dresden, Germany
  • 3Donetsk Institute for Physics and Technology, 340114 Donetsk, Ukraine
  • 4San Jose Research Center, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, San Jose, California 95135, USA

  • *Corresponding author; c.bran@ifw-dresden.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 2 — 1 January 2009

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×