MICROMAGNETICS OF SMALL-SIZE PATTERNED EXCHANGE BIASED PERMALLOY FILMELEMENTS

In this article, we present a study on the micromagnetics of exchange biased Permalloy films. Specifically, by combining magnetic force micr oscopy with micromagnetic modeling simulation, the magnetization rever sal processes in exchange biased Permalloy films were studied. The bil ayer films were lithographically patterned into micrometer scale recta ngular elements. It is shown that the micromagnetic simulations accura tely predict domain configurations during magnetization reversal of th e exchange biased Permalloy film elements and provide detailed magneti zation distributions and transient dynamic magnetization configuration s that could not yet be obtained experimentally. The study found that, for both NiO/NiFe and FeMn/NiFe systems, the exchange bias field meas ured on individual patterned micrometer scale bilayer film elements ca n be significantly larger than that measured on the sheet film sample. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.