Surface-step-induced double magnetic switching of Fe on vicinal W(100).
Two-level magnetic switching of a bilayer epitaxial Fe film grown on a graded stepped W(100) surface is observed using the magneto-optic Kerr effect. Hysteresis loops produced by the film at a location on the curved W(100) surface corresponding to a vicinal angle of 6.4 degrees exhibit two abrupt jumps in magnetization following spin orientation perpendicular to the steps resulting from surface-step-induced anisotropy. The two-step process can be understood in terms of abrupt depinning of spins in two inequivalent microdomains associated with the stepped surface. The results suggest a new realm of ultrathin film micromagnetics in which characteristic dimensions of 20-30 A can play a dominant role.
Mireles
H C
HC
Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1081, USA.
Erskine
J L
JL