Controlling the magnetic structure of CoNi microparticles by mechanical stress

The changes in the domain structure of CoNi microparticles under action of mechanical stresses have been studied. With this purpose, an array of identical planar square CoNi particles has been formed on the surface of a polished glass substrate. An elastic bending of the substrate has been used to induce mechanical stresses in the particles. It is shown, using magnetic-force microscopy, that the magnetic structure of the particles can be changed from the multidomain to quasi-homogeneous magnetization using mechanical stresses.