Oscillatory decay of magnetization induced by domain-wall stray fields

The demagnetization of a hard ferromagnetic layer via the fringing fields of domain walls created by reversing the moment of a neighboring soft ferromagnetic layer is explored experimentally. An unusual oscillatory decay of the magnetic moment of the hard layer is observed using structures in which...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 84; no. 15; p. 3462
Main Authors Thomas, L, Luning, J, Scholl, A, Nolting, F, Anders, S, Stohr, J, Parkin, SS
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 10.04.2000
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Summary:The demagnetization of a hard ferromagnetic layer via the fringing fields of domain walls created by reversing the moment of a neighboring soft ferromagnetic layer is explored experimentally. An unusual oscillatory decay of the magnetic moment of the hard layer is observed using structures in which the demagnetization occurs after a few hundred cycles. This surprising observation is confirmed on a microscopic scale by detailed imaging of the magnetization of the hard layer using high resolution photoemission electron microscopy and by micromagnetic simulations.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.3462