Magnetization reversal of Co/Pd multilayers on nanoporous templates

By making use of an e-beam deposition system, the [Co(2 Å)/Pd(10 Å)](15 )multilayers were prepared on a Si(100) substrate and anodized aluminum oxide [AAO] templates with average pore diameters of around 185, 95, and 40 nm. The mechanism of magnetization reversal of the Co/Pd multilayers was investigated. Wall motion was observed on the Co/Pd multilayers grown on the Si substrate. A combination of wall motion and domain rotation was found in the sample grown on the AAO template with a 185-nm pore diameter. For the samples grown on the AAO templates with pore diameters of around 95 and 40 nm, the reversal mechanism was dominated by domain rotation. The rotational reversal was mainly contributed from the underlying nanoporous AAO templates that provided an additional pinning effect. PACS: 75.30.Gw, magnetic anisotropy; 78.67.Rb, nanoporous materials; 75.60.Jk, magnetization reversal mechanisms.