Switching mechanism of single domain particles in a two-dimensional array

The mechanism of switching of uniaxial, single domain, single crystalline e pitaxial garnet particles on a 2D square array was investigated. The anisot ropy field of the sample is 2 kOe, while the gaussian switching field distr ibution is 280 +/- 85 Oe. The dominant contribution to the incoherent switc hing is from inhomogeneous internal fields and canted moments at the corner s and edges, where the switching starts. The interaction field with the sur rounding particles, reduced nucleation barriers at crystalline defects, the rmal activation, and dynamical effects in FMR also contribute to the observ ed switching field and as standard deviation.