INFLUENCE OF LATERAL SIZES AND UNIAXIAL MECHANICAL STRESSES ON THE DOMAIN STRUCTURE OF PLANAR Ni MICROPARTICLES

In this work, the domain structure of planar, square-shaped Ni microparticles was studied. In particular, the influence of particle size and applied uniaxial stress was investigated. It was shown that, within a certain size range, the microparticles exhibit a four-domain state. Moreover, the domain sizes depend on the magnitude of the applied uniaxial stress. The length of the domain wall formed between two enlarged domains was proposed as a parameter for estimating the magnitude of the applied stress. Magnetic force microscopy was used to visualize the magnetic structure of the microparticles and to determine the domain wall length. Finally, the particle size range within which the applied uniaxial stress can be detected was estimated.