Magnetization reversal in (CoNi/Pt)6 dots connected to a large area through submicron wide channels

We report the first observation of magnetization reversal in (CoNi/Pt)(6) small elements connected to a large area through submicron wide channels. Squares of size ranging from 0.2 mu m x 0.2 mu m to 10 mu m x 10 mu m and wire channels of linewidth ranging from 0.05 mu m to 0.5 mu m were fabricated by electron beam lithography and ion beam etching, and then studied by magneto-optical Kerr microscopy. Switching fields for magnetization and the reversal behavior of these dot elements were found to depend on the channel width, thereby providing a way of studying domain wail propagation in the wire channels.