Continuous change of surface magnetization direction from perpendicular to planar in soft magnetic CoP multilayers.

Amorphous soft magnetic CoP electrolytic multilayers have been obtained with a controlled surface magnetic anisotropy. The surface magnetization easy direction can be continuously altered from an initial perpendicular position to a final arrangement within the longitudinal plane. This continuous change of magnetization direction is controlled during the sample production stage and, therefore, there is no need to subject the films to subsequent treatments such as, for example, thermal, stress, or magnetic field annealing. The magnetic domain configurations, as observed by means of the Bitter technique, have revealed a continuous variation from an initial stripe domain structure to a final situation in which the magnetization lies within the plane of the films and magnetic domain walls are observed. The magneto-optic behavior of these multilayers has also revealed this continuous evolution from an initial perpendicular easy direction for the magnetization to a configuration in which the surface magnetization has a planar longitudinal direction. The surface magnetization processes are hence modified from the initial rotation magnetization to final processes corresponding to magnetic wall displacements. Control of magneto-optic behavior can be of interest for technical applications, given there would be no need for sense windings. A phenomenological discussion about the evolution of the surface magnetization easy direction is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]