The long-range dipole-dipole interaction in an array of ferromagnetic microwires is studied through magnetic hysteresis measurements and Monte Carlo simulation. The experimental study has been performed on glass-coated amorphous ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{77.5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{7.5}{\mathrm{B}}_{15}$ microwire with diameter of 5 μm and lengths from 5 to 60 mm. Hysteresis loops performed at room temperature for an array of N microwires $(N=2,\hspace{0.5em}3,\hspace{0.5em}4,$ and 5) exhibit jumps and plateaux on the demagnetization, each step correspondent to the magnetization reversal of an individual wire. A model has been constructed taking into account the fact that the magnetization reversal is nucleated at the ends of each wire, under the influence of a dipolar field due to all other wires. Measurements for two wires allowed us to conclude that the dipolar field (or constant coupling) is independent of distance, at least for an array of a few wires. With the exception of three wires, where frustration seems to be present, the predicted reversal fields of our model are in good agreement with measurements. In order to study the role played by the number of wires on the demagnetization process, we calculate hysteresis loops for a large number of wires through the Monte Carlo method.

• Received 15 October 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.8976