The observation of domain structure in magnetic thin films by means of the kerr magneto-optic effect

Abstract

An apparatus is described in which the ferromagnetic domain structure in a polished surface is made clearly visible. Sufficient contrast is obtained by blooming the metal surface and by using a quarter wave plate in the viewing telescope. Some results are described in which a film of 81: 19 nickel iron containing a domain structure was subjected to a steady field at right angles to the anisotropy axis. These observations show that simple Bloch domain walls are not occurring and that the magnetization reversal process can proceed by simultaneous domain growth and rotation of the magnetization vectors within the domains.