Stress tunable magnetic stripe domains in flexible Fe81Ga19 films

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an approach that combines in situ mechanical-stress measurement and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging and enable manipulation of the spin configuration of flexible films by tailoring the stress-induced anisotropy. We demonstrate that the stress-induced anisotropy can effectively rotate stripe domains. We see that, without the application of the magnetic field, the stripe domains tend to align parallel (perpendicular) to the direction of tensile (compressive) stress. The expansion (shrinkage) of flux-closure cap domains in response to applied tensile (compressive) stress, changes the out-of-plane stray field and the profile in the MFM image. The experimental results have been reproduced very well by micromagnetic simulations assuming a stress-induced anisotropy. Furthermore, we studied the evolution of stripe domains in the film with compressive stress against a decreasing magnetic field. It is indicated that in-plane mechanical stress can effectively convert stripe domains with Bloch walls to those with Néel walls. The observed stress-modulation of magnetic stripe domains may find application in microwave absorbers and flexible electronics.