Micromagnetics of strong stripe domains in NiCo thin films

Numerical 2-D computation of strong stripe domain structures in materials with an oblique easy axis are presented. It is shown that, in zero field, the surface magnetization distribution is winding. Under the action of a field applied parallel to the stripe elongation direction, a winding-to-unwinding surface magnetization transition occurs, which is a source of (topological) hysteresis. A quantitative agreement between the experimental and theoretical hysteresis curves is obtained.<
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