STRIPE DOMAIN-STRUCTURES IN A THIN FERROMAGNETIC FILM

We present a theory of stripe domain structures in a thin ferromagnetic film with easy-axis magnetic anisotropy and long-range dipole interactions, for a wide range of temperatures below the reorientational phase transition. Spatial anisotropy generated by the exchange energy within domain walls pins the orientation of the domains. The domain structure can be described as a smectic liquid crystal with positional order destroyed by both thermal meandering of domain walls and by proliferated dislocations. The theory is in good agreement with experiment.