title: A new phase diagram for layered antiferromagnetic films.
abstract: Magnetic multilayer films provide convenient model systems for studying the physics of antiferromagnetic films and surfaces. Here we report on the magnetic reversal and domain structure in antiferromagnetically coupled Co/Pt multilayers that are isomorphic to layered antiferromagnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We observe two distinct remanent states and reversal modes of the system. In mode 1 the magnetization in each layer reverses independently, producing an antiferromagnetic remanent state that shows full lateral correlation and vertical anticorrelation across the interlayers. In mode 2 the reversal in adjacent layers is locally synchronized with a remanent state that is vertically correlated but laterally anticorrelated in ferromagnetic stripe domains. Theoretical energy calculations of the two ground states identify a new phase boundary that is in good agreement with our experimental results.
authors.affiliation: IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120, USA.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hellwig
authors.forename: Taryl L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kortright
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Fullerton
mesh_terms: D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008280:Magnetics; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D003035:Cobalt; D010984:Platinum