The influence of individual lattice defects on the domain structure in magnetic antidot lattices

TL;DR

This study explores how individual lattice defects in magnetic antidot lattices influence domain structures, combining simulations and experiments to identify four typical configurations around defects.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of defect-induced domain configurations in magnetic antidot lattices through combined numerical and experimental methods.

Findings

Four typical domain configurations identified around defects

Defects induce complex domain structures after saturation decay

Simulations and experiments confirm the configurations

Abstract

We numerically and experimentally investigate the influence of single defects consisting of a missing antidot on the spin configurations in rectangular permalloy antidot lattices. The introduction of such lattice defects leads to the nucleation of complex domain structures after the decay of a saturating magnetic field. Micromagnetic simulations yield four typical domain configurations around the defect having distinct energy densities. The existence of the four spin configurations is confirmed by magnetic force microscopy on antidot lattices containing individual defects.