Ferromagnetic stripe domains in ultrathin films

Abstract

Using simple magnetostatic considerations, we discuss the domain structure and the domain-wall width, ω, in ultrathin magnetic films (of a few monolayer thickness) and in an atomic monolayer. The demagnetizing energy is calculated in a continuum theory which is valid provided that the domains are large compared with the lattice spacing. The calculated domain-wall width, ω, and the surface anisotropy constant, K s , are compared with the experimental data for thin epitaxial Co/Au (111) films and a good coincidence is obtained between both results.