Shape anisotropy and magnetic domain structures in striped monolayers

TL;DR

This study investigates how dipolar interactions influence magnetic domain structures in striped monolayers, revealing that in-plane shape anisotropy is generally negligible unless the monolayer width is very small, and in-plane domains form only under strong dipolar coupling.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the conditions under which shape anisotropy and in-plane domains emerge in magnetic striped monolayers with square symmetry.

Findings

In-plane shape anisotropy is negligible for large aspect ratios unless the width is less than 40.

In-plane domains form only when dipolar coupling exceeds domain wall energy.

Shape anisotropy effects are minimal in most typical configurations.

Abstract

We study the effect of dipolar interactions on a magnetic striped monolayer with a microscopic unit cell of square symmetry, and of size $(N_x\times N_y)$ spins. Even if the aspect ratio $r=N_x/N_y$ is very large, an in-plane shape anisotropy is always negligible, except if $N_y$ is fairly small $(N_y<40)$. In-plane domains are not possible, except for values of the dipolar coupling larger than the domain wall energy.