Effect of in-plane field on the stripe end motion in LPE-garnet films

Abstract

Contracting motions of stripe domains are studied by a real time observation method. The apparatus contains a high repetition rate Q‐switched YAG : Nd³⁺ laser, polarizing microscope, highly sensitive image‐orthicon TV camera system with a scan‐conversion memory, TV monitor and TV control system. The bending of the stripe end during the contraction is observed. It always occurs in the as‐grown film and sometimes in the YIG‐coated and ion‐implanted films. In the as‐grown film, the bendings of the stripe end can be separated into two modes. In mode‐1, the contracting velocity is about twice as large as in mode‐2 when there is no in‐plane field, and substantially increases when the in‐plane field is applied. In mode‐2 the velocity is scarcely influenced by the existence of the in‐plane field. In the YIG‐coated films, the contracting velocities have an asymmetry with respect to sense of the direction of the in‐plane field.