Magnetic force microscopy study of magnetic stray-field effects due to mechanical surface modifications of patterned Permalloy thin films

The domain structure of magnetic thin films is strongly influenced by the presence of surface defects. We have used a scanning tunneling microscope for local surface modifications of thin Permalloy films by mechanical interaction between tip and sample. The changes of the magnetic stray-field distribution due to local topographic modifications have been probed by magnetic force microscopy. The relationship between the surface morphology and the micromagnetic structure is studied for different types of surface modifications.