Effect of the soft layer thickness on magnetization reversal process of exchange-spring nanomagnet patterns

A systematic study of the magnetization reversal behavior in the regular arrangement of L10-FePt based exchange-spring nanomagnets with different thicknesses of the Co soft magnetic layer is presented. The magnetic property of the hard magnet is compared to two tuned exchange-spring magnets: its systems of 20 nm L10-FePt/3 nm, and 7 nm Co. In particular, we focus on the switching field distribution. The exchange coupling showed narrower SFD, in spite of the decoupled part switches earlier. The magnetization switching mechanism of exchange-spring nanomagnets patterns has been revealed with a first-order reversal curves technique and the switching field distribution. Further, the microscopic results using magnetic force microscopy show that the spin rotation of the non-interacting part in the thicker soft layered exchange-spring magnet. The part influences the magnetization reversal process. According to the experimental results, exchange coupling strength can be tuned by the thickness of the soft magnetic layer.