Micromagnetic Analysis of Monolayer L10-FePt and Bilayer L10-FePt/Fe Ultrathin Films

This work presents a micromagnetic investigation of monolayer L1₀ FePt and FePt/Fe bilayer thin films to clarify the role of thickness, composition, and exchange coupling in their magnetic behavior. Simulations were performed using the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert formalism implemented in OOMMF, with realistic material parameters and geometries. For FePt monolayers, film thicknesses of 1–20 nm were examined, revealing a non-monotonic coercivity trend: the coercive field increased from 35 mT at 1 nm to 136 mT at 10 nm and decreased to 69 mT at 20 nm. This evolution indicates a transition from localized reversal to domain-wall–mediated switching once the film exceeds the exchange length (10–20 nm). Additional simulations varying Fe concentration (48–68%) through the exchange stiffness constant showed that higher Fe content strengthens magnetic coupling and increases coercivity. Bilayer systems combining a 2 nm FePt layer with Fe layers of 10 and 12 nm exhibited rectangular, saturated loops, confirming strong exchange coupling and exchange-spring behavior. The results identify 2 nm FePt as the optimal thickness for achieving full saturation, balanced coercivity, and thermal stability in FePt/Fe thin-film architectures.