Faraday microscopy and magnetic force microscopy with circularly polarized picosecond optical pulses are used to investigate domain switching in a ferromagnetic Pt/Co/Pt thin film. A stochastic model explains the nucleation and growth of magnetic domains, taking into account light helicity and the relative magnetization of neighbouring domains.
- Dinar Khusyainov
- Rein Liefferink
- Theo Rasing
