Ha, J. K., Hertel, R., Kirschner, J.
Concentric domains in patterned thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Europhysics Letters 64, pp 810-815 (2003)
We report a finite-element micromagnetic study on domain structures in tetragonally distorted Ni(001) films which are confined to the geometric shapes of a cylindrical disc, rectangular and triangular prisms, and a pacman. The thickness-dependent perpendicular anisotropy is provided by the inverse magnetostriction effect. It is found that some of the observed perpendicular domain patterns reflect the in-plane shape of their respective element. We call these domains "concentric domains". The geometric effect on the domain shape is attributed to the inhomogeneity of the demagnetizing field.