Microscopic magnetization reversal in perpendicular anisotropy CoCr thin films

Magnetic force microscopy was used to observe the magnetization reversal in a CoCr thin film on a grain/subgrain scale. The combination of high resolu tion topographic and magnetic images were used to relate microscopic magnet ization changes to the microstructure of the sample. Both uniformly and par tially magnetized grains and both uniform and partial magnetization reversa l were observed. Statistically, the uniform magnetic state was more prevale nt. In addition, there was a visualization of the flux closure between grai ns. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)02805-9].