Field- and anisotropy-induced evolution of magnetization distributions in ultrathin cobalt films

The thickness- and field-driven evolutions of magnetization distributions in ultrathin cobalt films are studied by micromagnetic simulations. For laterally infinite ultrathin films we suggest simple formulas allowing calculations of the domain periods in wide scales of the thicknesses and in-plane applied fields. For laterally limited samples the edge effect was shown to extend the existence of out-of-plane magnetizations states behind the reorientation phase transition thickness (or field). New types of magnetization distributions such as the edge domains structure and out-of-plane domains patterned vortex and leaf were found in semi-infinite films and nanodisks, respectively. (C) 2005 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.