Cycloidal domains in the magnetization reversal process of Ni80Fe20/Nd16Co84/Gd12Co88 trilayers

Quiros, C., Hierro-Rodriguez, A., Sorrentino, A., Valcarcel, R., Alvarez-Prado, L.M., Martín, J.I., Alameda, J.M., Pereiro, E., Vélez, M. and Ferrer, S. (2018) Cycloidal domains in the magnetization reversal process of Ni80Fe20/Nd16Co84/Gd12Co88 trilayers. Physical Review Applied, 10, 014008. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.10.014008)

Abstract

The magnetization reversal of each individual layer in magnetic trilayers ( permalloy / Nd Co / Gd Co ) is investigated in detail with x-ray microscopy and micromagnetic calculations. Two sequential inversion mechanisms are identified. First, magnetic vortex-antivortex pairs move along the field direction while inverting the magnetization of magnetic stripes until they are pinned by defects. The vortex-antivortex displacements are reversible within a field interval which allows their controlled motion. Second, as the reversed magnetic field increases, cycloidal domains appear in the permalloy layer as a consequence of the dissociation of vortex-antivortex pairs due to pinning. The field range where magnetic vortices and antivortices are effectively guided by the stripe pattern is of the order of tens of mT for the Ni Fe layer, as estimated from the stability of cycloid domains in the sample.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Work supported by Spanish MINECO (grants FIS2013-45469 and FIS2016-76058 (AEI/FEDER,EU)) and by FICYT-Asturias (FC-GRUPIN14-040). A. Hierro-Rodriguez acknowledges the support from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant ref. H2020-MSCA-IF-2016-746958.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hierro Rodriguez, Dr Aurelio
• Authors: Quiros, C., Hierro-Rodriguez, A., Sorrentino, A., Valcarcel, R., Alvarez-Prado, L.M., Martín, J.I., Alameda, J.M., Pereiro, E., Vélez, M., and Ferrer, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review Applied
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 2331-7019
• ISSN (Online): 2331-7019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review Applied 10:014008
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher