Magnetization precession and domainwall structure in cobalt-ruthenium-cobalt trilayers

Authors

Zhen Li
Ralph Skomski
Sy-Hwang Liou
Steven Michalski
Mircea Chipara, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Roger D. Kirby

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

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.

Comments

Copyright 2011 American Institute of Physics. Original published version available at doi.org/10.1063/1.3540406

Recommended Citation

J. Appl. Phys. 109, 07C113 (2011); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3540406

Publication Title

J. Appl. Phys.

DOI

10.1063/1.3540406