Domain overlap in antiferromagnetically coupled [Co/Pt]/NiO/ [Co/Pt] multilayers

Authors

Andrew Baruth, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Lu Yuan, Physics Department, University of NebraskaFollow
John D. Burton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Karolina Janicka, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Sy_Hwang Liou, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Shireen Adenwalla, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

11-14-2006

Comments

Published by American Institute of Physics. Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 202505 2006. © 2006 American Institute of Physics. Permission to use. http://apl.aip.org/.

Abstract

Antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic thin films with perpendicular anisotropy exhibit domain overlap regions originating from magnetostatic stray fields localized in the vicinity of the domain walls. Using high resolution magnetic force microscopy, the authors investigate these overlap regions in [Co/Pt] /NiO/ [Co/Pt] multilayers with various strengths of the interlayer exchange coupling. They develop a simple model that provides a quantitative explanation of the formation of these regions and the relationship between the domain overlap width and the coupling strength. Their results are important for application of magnetic layered structures with perpendicular anisotropy in advanced magnetoresistive devices.