Anisotropy and Coupling in Magnetic Stripe Geometries

Magnetic films with periodic stripe geometries exhibit tunable in-plane magnetic anisotropy fields and interstripe dipole coupling, governed by key geometric parameters including stripe thickness, width, and distance. In this study, we systematically investigated the contributions of shape-induced anisotropy and dipole interactions to the effective anisotropy field using micromagnetic simulations complemented by experimental validation on FeCo alloy films. The results reveal that increasing stripe thickness significantly enhances shape anisotropy fields and interstripe coupling due to increased magnetostatic volume contributions and exerts a substantial influence on interstripe coupling strength, a factor previously overlooked in studies focused on stripe spacing. In contrast, increasing stripe width reduces anisotropy fields due to weakened confinement effects, while narrow stripe spacing amplifies dipolar coupling, intensifying magnetic interactions. Experimental hysteresis measurements corroborate simulation trends despite minor deviations arising from fabrication imperfections. Furthermore, ternary contour diagrams constructed from theoretical and experimental data elucidate the competitive interplay among geometric parameters, providing a robust framework for tailoring anisotropy and dipolar coupling in spintronic applications. This study bridges the gap between simulation and experiment, offering valuable insights into designing magnetic devices.