Angular dependence of the switching field in patterned magnetic elements

Recent experimental studies on the switching behaviour of CoPd multilayer islands with sizes in a range from 20-100 nm shows the classical angular dependence for uniform rotation. We compare measured angular dependence of the switching field with micromagnetic finite element simulations. Simulation results show reversal modes close to uniform rotation for islands smaller than 30 nm. Larger islands (>70 nm) reverse by nucleation of a reversed domain followed by domain wall propagation. However, the angular dependence does not change its character with the island size. The nucleation of the reversed domain determines the switching field. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.