Influence of domain structure induced coupling on magnetization reversal of Co/Pt/Co film with perpendicular anisotropy

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 422; pp. 465 - 469
• Main Authors: Matczak, Michał, Schäfer, Rudolf, Urbaniak, Maciej, Kuświk, Piotr, Szymański, Bogdan, Schmidt, Marek, Aleksiejew, Jacek, Stobiecki, Feliks
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-01-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Cobalt; Coupling; Interlayer coupling; Interlayers; Magnetic domains; Magnetism; Magnetization reversal; Magnetostatic interactions; Microscopy; Nucleation; Perpendicular anisotropy; Magnetostatic interactions; Perpendicular anisotropy; Interlayer coupling; Magnetic domains
• ISSN: 0304-8853; 1873-4766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2016.09.042

A magnetic multilayer of substrate/Pt-15nm/Co-0.8nm/Pt-wedge 0–7nm/Co-0.6nm/Pt-2nm structure is characterized by a perpendicular anisotropy of the Co layers and by graded interlayer coupling between them. Using magnetooptical Kerr microscopy we observed a distinct influence of magnetic domains in one Co layer on the nucleation field and positions of nucleation sites of reversed domains in the second Co layer. For sufficiently strong interlayer coupling a replication of magnetic domains from the magnetically harder layer to the magnetically softer layer is observed.
•Co/Pt-wedge/Co layered film is characterized by a gradient of interlayer coupling.•Magnetic field controls propagation of straight domain wall.•Replication of magnetic domains in multilayers with strong ferromagnetic coupling.•Coupling induced by domains influences magnetization reversal of spin valves.