Thickness-dependent magnetic domain change in epitaxial MnAs films on GaAs(001)

Abstract

The authors report the change of the magnetic domain structure, dependent on the film thickness of MnAs films epitaxially grown on GaAs(001), investigated by magnetic force microscopy. Interestingly, as the film thickness decreases, the domain structure within the ferromagnetic alpha-MnAs stripes changes from a head-on domain structure to a simple 180 degrees one around a thickness of 250 nm. This result is understood by the change in the demagnetizing factor of the ferromagnetic stripes with the film thickness. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.