Sub-20 nm magnetic dots with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

A new and simple method for the preparation of magnetic dot arrays is introduced. Diblock copolymer micelles with a silica core are used as template for the generation of nanostructure arrays. The silica cores are utilized as mask for ion milling preparation. The morphology and size of the silica and magnetic dot arrays are discussed. The magnetic dots are made from Co/Pt multilayer films. Ferromagnetic dots with a diameter well below 20 nm and perpendicular easy axis of magnetization are created. The switching behavior changes from domain wall motion, dominant in the film, to single domain particle switching in the dots. The magneto-optic saturation signals and the evolution of magnetic anisotropy are discussed.