Magnetization reversal in out-of-plane magnetized Ni/Cu(100) films

                    A. Bauer * bauer@physik.fu-berlin.de, E. Mentz and G. Kaindl

           Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany 

Abstract

Field-induced magnetization reversal in Ni/Cu(100) films with perpendicular anisotropy is studied in situ by
magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and Kerr-microscopy. We discuss the time dependence of the reversal
process and determine the Barkhausen volume. Surface defects are found to generate metastable 360° domain
walls that strongly influence the magnetization reversal process.

Keywords: Magnetization reversal; Magnetic domains; Thin magnetic films

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +49-30-838-6162; fax: +49-30-838-6560 

[Full text] (PDF 297.2 Kb) 

© Copyright 2001, Elsevier Science, All rights reserved.