Magnetization reversal process in polycrystalline ordered Fe-Pt(001) thin films

Magnetization reversal processes in Fe-Pt(001) thin films prepared by a high-pressure sputter deposition method were studied. Samples were classified in four types of domain patterns. Type I, with maze-like domain patterns, has a mixing mode of nucleation and wall motion for magnetization reversal. While, type II, with large island domain patterns, shows wall motion in its magnetization reversal. Type III has small island domain patterns, and type IV has fine discrete domain patterns showing rotational modes with inclined M-H loops. Type IV is expected to be one of the candidates for future ultrahigh-density magnetic recording media with high resolution and low noise. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)50208-9].