Magnetic domain structure and magnetization reversal in (Co/Ni) and (Co/Pd) multilayers

•Investigation of magnetic domain structure and reversal mechanism of Co/Ni and Co/Pd multilayers.•More than 10 times larger domain are observed for Co/Pd compared to Co/Ni with different reversal behavior.•Co/Pd provides also better thermal stability compared to Co/Ni multilayers as shown by magnetooptical Kerr microscopy.•From micromagnetic simulations, it is possible to reproduce both magnetic domain structure and hysteresis loops.