Mechanism of chirality reversal for planar interface domain walls in exchange-coupled hard/soft magnetic bilayers

Abstract

The mechanism of chirality reversal for a planar interface domain wall in a hard/soft magnetic bilayer has been identified by combining magnetoresistance measurements, modeling, and direct magnetic domain observations. The reversal occurs through IDW nucleation and lateral domain wall propagation. Over an unpredicted wide range of applied magnetic fields, the chirality transition takes place by an unwinding followed by a rewinding of the IDW. The chirality transition mechanism of phase transition could be identified from a micromagnetic analysis of the lateral magnetic domain wall orientation. Up to three magnetization phases coexist in the uniaxial material during reversal. © 2008 The American Physical Society.