Magnetization reversal in CoCrPt thin film trilayers

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Abstract
Evidence for the existence of magnetic interactions between layers in a CoCrPt/Cr trilayer system is presented. From the major hysteresis loops and demagnetizing remanence curves we find that the initial magnetic layer has the highest coercivity and switches quasi-independently whereas cooperative effects are present in subsequent layers. This difference in behaviour is attributed to the comparatively thick (500 AA) Cr underlayer on which the initial layer is sputtered. The two upper films which constitute an effective bilayer of variable spacer, X, (10 AA<or=X<or=100 AA) appear to be coupled by a dipolar interaction between the two magnetic layers. It is postulated that this coupling arises from the presence of magnetic domains. If the system is re-magnetized from the AC demagnetized state and the remanence examined, all three films show evidence of coupling. Once again we conclude that this is mainly dipolar in nature and arises from the presence of a domain structure in all three magnetic layers.

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