Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Physical origin of high initial permeability, μi, in Fe based films with large magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostriction is systematically discussed in connection with the microstructure of the films. In order to decrease the local anisotropy fluctuation to determine μi in these films, decrease of effective magnetic anisotropy, Ueff, of each grain mainly caused by the sufficient reduction of grain size is required. Induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy, Ku, in film plane plays an important role to decrease Ueff through the micromagnetic interaction. The ratio of Ueff /Ku proposed as the important key to analyse the magnetization process. The dependence of μi Ku is classified concerning for Ueff/Ku.