Fluctuation and dipolar interaction effects on the pinning of domain walls

We discuss the effect of the dipolar interaction on the pinning of domain w alls. Domain walls are usually pinned near the boundaries between grains. M agnetic charges accumulated at the domain wall make the wall more unstable and easier to depin. We discuss how the grain-orientaion and thermal fluctu ations affect these magnetic charges and hence the depinning of the domain walls. Our results are illustrated by finite temperature Monte Carlo simula tion on periodic arrays of large cells separated by walls consisting of fac es of pyramids. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.