Magnetic susceptibility and magnetic domain configuration as a function of the layer thickness in epitaxial FePd(0 0 1) thin films ordered in the L1 o structure
Abstract
We demonstrate that highly ordered equiatomic FePd thin layers can be grown in the L1 0 structure using Molecular Beam Epitaxy. Such layers exhibit a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, the ratio of the magnetic anisotropy to the magnetostatic energy being well above one (about 2.2). The magnetic properties of the layers have been extensively investigated throughout a large range of thickness of the FePd layer (5-50 nm). Magnetic Force Microscopy images demonstrate that, as the thickness of the FePd layer decreases from 30 to 5 nm, the magnetic configuration exhibits dramatic changes from small (60 nm width) highly interconnected stripes to a complicated pattern mixing large stripes (600 nm) and bubbles (200 nm). New mathematical developments provide an easy way to include in the calculations the evolution of both the magnetic susceptibility and the size of the magnetic domains with the sample thickness, giving two independent evaluations of the relevant micromagnetic parameters of the layer.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
- Pub Date:
- February 1997
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0304-8853(97)00089-9
- Bibcode:
- 1997JMMM..172...26G