Direct experimental study of domain structure in magnetic multilayers

We have applied a polarized light optical microscope in reflective mode with a Bi-substituted yttrium-iron-garnet indicator film with in-plane anisotropy for visualization of the magnetostatic fields produced by nanostructured magnetic CoNiCu/Cu electrodeposited multilayers. By analysis of the magneto-optical stray field image, detailed information is obtained not only on the as-grown multilayer magnetic structure but on its change during the magnetization reversal processes. The influences of crystal lattice defects and nonuniformity of the nonmagnetic spacers thicknesses on the domain wall nucleation and motion are studied. Peculiarities of the re-magnetization of antiferromagnetically exchange coupled multilayers are discussed, including real-time observations of domain wall creep in a constant applied field.