Figure 1

Major and minor hysteresis loops obtained by longitudinal Kerr effect for two ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{20}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{80}\left(5\mathrm{nm}\right)∕\mathrm{Cu}\left(4\mathrm{nm}\right)∕\mathrm{Co}\left(x\mathrm{nm}\right)$ spin-valve-like trilayers deposited on $\mathrm{Si}\left(001\right)∕{\mathrm{SiO}}_2$. Sample $A(x=5)$ is quasi-isotropic within the plane of the layers while sample $B(x=8)$ presents uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Minor loops of the FeNi layer are indicated by dashed lines. For sample $B$, both the in-plane easy (continuous line) and hard (dotted line) magnetization axis loops are shown.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

Time- and layer-resolved XMCD-PEEM domain images of the Permalloy [(b)–(e)] and Co layers (f) of sample $A$. The field of view is about 25 μm and the spatial resolution 0.3 μm. The projection of the x-ray incidence direction on the sample surface is pointing up in the images (parallel to the arrow) and is parallel (antiparallel) to the direction of the field for positive (negative) pulses. The magnetization direction is in the plane of the layers and points up (parallel to the arrow) for black domains, and down for white domains. The images were taken for delays between photon and magnetic pulses of $-15$, 30, 55, and 80 ns, as indicated in (a). The clearest visible black domains in the Co layer are indicated with thin white lines in (f) and in the Permalloy image of (b) for comparison.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 3

Time- and layer-resolved XMCD-PEEM domain images of the Permalloy [(b)–(e)] and Co (f) layers of sample $B$. The field of view is about 80 μm and the spatial resolution 1 μm. The direction of incoming photons and the magnetization directions of the different domains are the same as in Fig. 2. The images were taken at delays of 10, 35, 60, and 110 ns between photon and magnetic pulses, as indicated in (a). The dotted white lines in (b) and (f) indicate the position of the domain walls in the Co layer.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 4

Static XMCD-PEEM domain images of the Permalloy layer of sample $B$, taken after the application of 1, 9, and 14 pulses as shown in Fig. 3a. Two domains are present in the Co layer, a black domain on the left and a white domain on the right, separated by a domain wall indicated in the images by a dotted white line.Reuse & Permissions