Spin reversal in small planar structures for off-axis field orientations

We study the magnetization reversal through domain nucleation in a plane when the external magnetic field is applied at an angle ψ with respect to the easy axis. When the field is along the easy axis, a linear temperature dependence for the switching field was observed. In contrast, when the field is off the easy axis, the nucleation barrier is shown proportional to (Hc0−H)α with α=1/2. The corresponding mean switching field shows a T2-dependence, in agreement with experimental and simulation results.