Magnetic domain wall trapping by in-plane surface roughness modulation

Using the influence of surface roughness on the coercivity of thin magnetic films, we have produced an artificially modulated magnetic domain configuration in a chemically homogeneous polycrystalline thin magnetic film. This is achieved by evaporating a thin Fe film on top of a smooth substrate that was previously covered with an array of considerably rougher Ag lines. Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements revealed the presence of two distinct switching fields in the hysteresis loops. In the intermediate state, a stable magnetic domain configuration of antiparallel aligned domains is achieved. Magnetic force microscopy images indicate that interacting cross-tie domain walls are separating the magnetic domains.