Micromagnetics of mesoscopic epitaxial (110) Fe elements with nanoshaped ends

The magnetization reversal and magnetic domain configurations of 0.5-μm-wide epitaxial (110) Fe particles with rectangular and needle-shaped ends and competing magnetic anisotropies have been investigated. Magnetic force microscopy imaging and longitudinal Kerr hysteresis loop measurements in conjunction with micromagnetic simulations have been used to elucidate the basic micromagnetic behavior. End shape is shown to be a determining factor for the nucleation of magnetization reversal and the resulting magnetic domain configurations. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.