MAGNETIC CONFIGURATIONS IN MULTILAYERS - TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT CONE STATES AND NARROW STRIPE DOMAINS

We present results for magnetic anisotropies and domain formation obta ined using torque magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy on epitax ially grown Co/Pt multilayers. A surprising result is the orientation of the equilibrium magnetization at oblique angles with respect to the film plane and the surface normal. These configurations are identifie d as 'cone states' and found to exist in limited ranges of Pt film thi cknesses and temperatures. The temperature dependence is very unusual and controlled through the behavior of the lowest-order perpendicular uniaxial anisotropies. Narrow stripe domains were also observed in the demagnetized state with periods less than 100 nm. Multilayer effects on the domain period and associated saturation fields were observed.