Magnetic force microscopy analysis of magnetization reversal in exchange-biased Co/CoO nanostructure arrays

Sarah Suck (1) , Volker Neu (2) , Ulricke Wolff (2) , Stefan Bahr (3) , Olivier Bourgeois (4) , Dominique Givord (1)

1 NEEL - MNM - Micro et NanoMagnétisme
2 IFW Dresden - Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research
3 NEEL - QuantECA - Circuits électroniques quantiques Alpes
4 NEEL - TPS - Thermodynamique et biophysique des petits systèmes

Asymmetry in the magnetization reversal processes of exchange bias Co/CoO rectangular nanodot arrays is revealed by magnetic force microscopy. One-step switching is found along the descending branch of the hysteresis cycle whereas rotational or multidomain processes are involved along the ascending branch. From a statistical analysis of the environment of each dot during reversal, it is concluded that dipolar interactions do not significantly influence the magnetization reversal processes.

Mots clés: nanostructure arrays; exchange-bias; magnetic force microscopy; Co/CoO

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

Sarah Suck, Volker Neu, Ulricke Wolff, Stefan Bahr, Olivier Bourgeois, et al.. Magnetic force microscopy analysis of magnetization reversal in exchange-biased Co/CoO nanostructure arrays. Applied Physics Letters, 2009, 95 (16), pp.162503. ⟨10.1063/1.3248240⟩. ⟨hal-00439595⟩