Domain structure and magnetisation processes in magneto-optic Co/Pt thin films

We report on a study of the magnetic properties of Co/Pt multilayer films. We have examined nucleation and domain wall pinning controlled materials and observe two distinct forms of behaviour in terms of the samples hysteresis loops. We interpret our data in terms of a two coercivity model and we report on the magnetic behaviour in terms of a detailed analysis of irreversible magnetisation changes obtained from the measurement of remanence curves. The domain structures in remanent states have been examined using an MFM and we find a correlation between domain size and shape and the form of the associated remanence curves.