Alternating domains with uniaxial and biaxial magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial Fe films on BaTiO[sub 3]

We report on domain formation and magnetization reversal in epitaxial Fe films on ferroelectric BaTiO3 substrates with ferroelastica–c stripe domains. The Fe films exhibit biaxial magnetic anisotropy on top of c domains with out-of-plane polarization, whereas the in-plane lattice elongation of a domains induces uniaxial magnetoelasticanisotropy via inverse magnetostriction. The strong modulation of magnetic anisotropy symmetry results in full imprinting of the a–c domain pattern in the Fe films. Exchange and magnetostaticinteractions between neighboring magnetic stripes further influence magnetization reversal and pattern formation within the a and c domains.Peer reviewe