Macro- and Nanoscale Magnetic Anisotropy of FeNi(P) Micropillars in Polycarbonate Membrane

Macroscopic and local magnetic anisotropy of the FeNi(P) pillars deposited using electroless plating in the pores of the nuclear track-etched polycarbonate membrane has been studied. The alloy fills the pores and forms a nail-shaped pillar. The macroscopic easy magnetization axis was found to be perpendicular to the membrane plane due to magnetic shape anisotropy. The macroscopic magnetic anisotropy constant decreases with decreasing pillar diameter from 0.4 to 0.1 μm supposedly due to increase of the pillar cap contribution. Approach to magnetic saturation analysis indicates that the order in local easy magnetization axis is localized on a nanoscale. The correlation length of the local easy axis and the local magnetic anisotropy field in (Fe_100−xNi_x)₉₈P₂ pillars of different compositions with diameter of 0.4 μm are studied.