Switching mechanism of single domain particles in a two-dimensional array

The mechanism of switching of uniaxial, single domain, single crystalline epitaxial garnet particles on a 2D square array was investigated. The anisotropy field of the sample is 2 kOe, while the Gaussian switching field distribution is 280/spl plusmn/85 Oe. The dominant contribution to the incoherent switching is from inhomogeneous internal fields and canted moments at the corners and edges, where the switching starts. The interaction field with the surrounding particles, reduced nucleation barriers at crystalline defects, thermal activation, and dynamical effects in FMR also contribute to the observed switching field and its standard deviation.