Direct mapping of the spin states in mesoscopic anti-structures

We report on the systematic evolution of the micromagnetism in mesoscopic Ni80Fe20 anti-structures of complex geometrical shapes such as anti-ring, anti-U and anti-C structures. By using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) techniques, we observed directly that the local magnetic spin states at remanence are strongly influenced by the anti-structure geometry and field orientation due to shape-induced magnetic anisotropy. Our experimental results are in very good agreement with micromagnetic simulations.