Magnetization precession and domain-wall structure in cobalt-ruthenium- cobalt trilayers

Zhen Li, Ralph Skomski, Sy Hwang Liou, Steven Michalski, Mircea Chipara, Roger D. Kirby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The magnetization dynamics of Co(5 nm)/Ru/Co(5 nm) trilayers with Ru thicknesses from 0.3-0.6 nm is experimentally and theoretically investigated. The coupling between the Co layers is antiferromagnetic (AFM) and yields a stable AFM domain structure with frozen domain walls. Comparing high-resolution magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and pump-probe measurements, we analyze the behavior of the films for different field-strength regimes. For moderate magnetic fields, pump-probe measurements provide dynamic characterization of the coupled precessional modes in the GHz range. The dynamics at small fields is realized by the pinning of AFM domain walls at inhomogeneities. The MFM images yield a domain-wall width that varies from about 150-60 nm. This behavior is explained in terms of a micromagnetic local-anisotropy model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number07C113
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume109
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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