Magnetic domain structure and coercivity distribution for patterned DyFeCo thin films

The coercivity of patterned magnetooptical (MO) thin film media is quite different from that of nonpatterned samples. During the demagnetization process, we observed the sample's magnetic domain motion and structures. It was quite obvious that the coercivity values in the hole regions are unlike those on the land regions for patterned magnetic materials. Nevertheless, it was not possible to compute coercivity of holes and land regions directly. In this study, we measured of microhysteresis curves at a patterned position while mapping coercivity distribution using a Kerr microscope. The submicrometer images of the remanent state of domain reversal patterns were observed using a magnetic force microscope.