Effect of film texture on magnetization reversal and switching field in continuous and patterned (Co/Pd) multilayers

Abstract

We studied the reversal properties of perpendicular anisotropy (Co/Pd) multilayers with different crystallographic textures. In case of continuous films, an increase in the coercivity and reduction in the switching field distribution (SFD) were observed as the growth is improved. From magnetic force microscopy, a stripe-type domain configuration was observed in films deposited at low gas pressure while a bubble-type domain was observed in high pressure deposited films. In patterned films, the SFD did not vary significantly for samples with different textures although a 2 kOe increase in the switching field was measured. In patterned structures, the controllability of SFD may not be related to the improvement of film crystallographic growth as was observed for unpatterned films. The results from this study indicate that local variation in the intrinsic film properties plays a major role in the SFD.