Domain structure and magnetization processes of complex magnetic multilayers [Elektronische Ressource] / by Cristina Bran

Department of PhysicsFaculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesTechnical University DresdenDomain structure and magnetization processes ofcomplex magnetic multilayersDISSERTATIONfor the partial fulllment of the requirements for the academic degree ofDoctor rerum naturalium(Dr.rer.nat.)byDipl.-Phys. Cristina Branborn March 13, 1978 in Slanic-Prahova, RomaniaDresden2010AbstractThe magnetization processes of antiferromagnetically (AF) coupled Co/Pt multilayerson extended substrates and of Co/Pd multilayers deposited on arrays of 58 nm spheres areinvestigated via magnetic force microscopy at room temperature by imaging the domain con-guration in magnetic elds.Adding AF exchange to such perpendicular anisotropy systems changes the typical energybalance that controls magnetic band domain formation, thus resulting in two competing re-versal modes for the system. In the ferromagnetic (FM) dominated regime the magnetizationforms FM band domains, vertically correlated. By applying a magnetic eld, a transitionfrom band to bubble domains is observed.In the AF-exchange dominated regime, by applying a eld or varying the temperature it ispossible to alter the magnetic correlation from horizontal (AF state) to vertical (FM state)via the formation of specic multidomain states, called metamagnetic domains. A theoreticalmodel, developed for complex multilayers is applied to the experimentally studied multilayerarchitecture, showing a good agreement.