Ferromagnetic domain configuration and electrical resistance of Co zigzag wires

Micrometer wide Co zigzag wires, which are arranged according to a Wheatstone bridge configuration, are investigated by magnetotransport measurements, by magnetic force microscopy in the presence of an external magnetic field, and also by micromagnetic simulations. We are able to link changes in the magnetoresistance to specific changes in the magnetic domain structure which is strongly affected by shape induced anisotropy effects.