Directional change of magnetic easy axis of arrays of cobalt nanowires: Role of non-dipolar magnetostatic interaction

Room temperature magnetization of two dimensional (2D) arrays of cobalt nanowires (NWs) having diameter 50 and 150 nm prepared by electrodeposition are studied in details. Diffraction patterns of the NWs reveal that the crystallites of the NWs become more textured on decreasing their diameter. Magnetic hysteresis loop measurements show the magnetic easy axis changes its direction from axial to perpendicular direction of NWs on increasing the length of the NWs. The magnetostatic interaction among the NWs, known as the key factor in defining the easy direction is found not to be dipolar at all the circumstances. An aspect ratio (length/diameter of NWs) dependence of the non-dipolar interaction in 150 nm NWs is evident from the static magnetization as well as from ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.