title: Step-edge induced anisotropic domain-wall propagation
abstract: We report the observation of anisotropic domain-wall propagation in ultrathin magnetic films with perpendicular anisotropy. A controlled density of step edges was introduced which allowed us to quantify its influence on the domain-wall pinning. For a sawtooth arrangement of the step edges the corresponding wall movement resulted in triangular shaped domains. All aspects of this anisotropic domain-wall evolution could be reproduced by a simulation based on a modified Ginzburg-Landau-type soft-spin model.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haibach
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huth
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adrian