Dense stripe domains in a nanocrystalline CoFeSiB thin film

We recently reported a possible antiferromagnetically coupled phase in a Co-rich CoFeSiB thin film, that had a partially nanocrystalline Co phase in an amorphous CoFeSiB matrix. Although an amorphous CoFeSiB film should show a ferromagnetic behavior, we observed an antiferromagnetic coupling associated with a nanocrystalline Co phase in the hysteresis-loop measurements of Co-rich CoFeSiB thin films. We ascribed the observed antiferromagnetic coupling to dense stripe domains consisting of periodically up and down domains perpendicular to the surface of the film. The configuration of the stripe domains was confirmed with magnetic force microscopy images. When a longitudinal magnetic field was applied, the size of the stripe domain was reduced. While for a transverse field, the domain structure became tilted and zigzagged, but no in-plane magnetic anisotropy was noted. When the magnetic field was increased to values above the saturation magnetic field, HS = 2.5 kOe, the domain structure disappeared.