Magnetization reversal in CoCr perpendicular thin films

Abstract

Computer simulation has been utilized to study magnetization reversal processes in CoCr perpendicular films. The model is based on the columnar structure of the film. Each column is considered to be a single crystal with perpendicular uniaxial crystalline anisotropy. The model assumes that each column is always uniformly magnetized even during its magnetization reversal. The gyromagnetic equation of motion with phenomenological Landau–Lifshitz damping is utilized to describe the magnetization rotation of this coupled system. The study focuses on the collective magnetization reversal modes of the particles due to magnetostatic interactions and intergranular exchange coupling. Low nucleation fields occur which are characterized by a planar chain nucleation mode. This yields coercivities equal to or less than the crystalline anisotropy field 2K/M. It is argued that, due to this collective process, the uniform rotation reversal mechanism for the individual particles in the film is energetically more favorable than nonuniform reversal, such as curling. Intercolumn exchange coupling significantly reduces the coercivity and an increase of the exchange coupling strength changes the magnetization behavior from ‘‘particulate’’ to ‘‘continuous.’’