Magnetic Reversal on Vicinal Surfaces

Published

January 1, 1999

Author(s)

R Hyman, A Zangwill, Mark D. Stiles

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of in-plane magnetization reversal for vicinal ultrathin films using a one-dimensional micromagnetic model with nearest-neighbor exchange, fourfold anisotropy at all sites, and two-fold anisotropy at step edges. A detailed "phase diagram" is presented that catalogs the possible shapes of hysteresis loops and reversal mechanisms as a function of step anistropy strength and vicinal terrace length. The steps generically nucleate magnetization reversal and pin the motion of domain walls. No sharp transition separates the cases of reversal by coherent rotation and reversal by depinning of a 90° domain wall from the steps. Comparison to experiment is made when appropriate.

Citation

Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)

Volume

58

Issue

14

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

anisotropy, domain walls, hysteresis, micromagnetic, ultrathin films, vicinal surface

Citation

Hyman, R. , Zangwill, A. and Stiles, M. (1999), Magnetic Reversal on Vicinal Surfaces, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) (Accessed February 23, 2026)