Magnetic domains in Co thin films obliquely sputtered on a polymer substrate - art. no. 174441

Magnetic domains in obliquely sputtered Co films on a polymer substrate hav e been investigated with magnetic force microscopy. The growth angle has be en found to strongly affect the domain structure as well as the magnetic pr operties, due to changes in the microstructure. At large angles finite-size elongated domains oriented in the longitudinal direction (projection of th e growth direction on the him plane) were energetically favorable. However, at intermediate angles a transition to stripe domains occurs due to an inc rease in exchange coupling. These domains exhibit a width of 400 nm and lie along the longitudinal direction. In the remanent state (after saturation) , circular as well as elliptical magnetic bubbles coexist, but coalesce in the dc demagnetized state to form stripe domains.