Micromagnetic calculations of 180° surface domain-wall magnetization profiles with comparison to measurements

We compare measurements of magnetization profiles across 180° surface domain walls in a permalloy ferromagnet with calculations from micromagnetic models. The models were solved both by relaxation and by a time-evolution calculation. The measurements were made using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis. We obtain good agreement without postulating any surface anisotropy effect. This is the first successful comparison between experiment and a time-evolution calculation of domain walls.