Domain formation near the reorientation transition in perpendicularly magnetized, ultrathin Fe/Ni bilayer films (invited)

Ultrathin films with perpendicular magnetization convert from a single domain state into a multidomain structure as the reorientation phase transition to an in-plane magnetization is approached. Reorientation transitions in magnetic ultrathin films result from the interplay of interfacial magnetic anisotropy, the dipolar interaction, and two-dimensional thermodynamics. These transitions can be driven by changing either the film thickness or …