The magnetic domain structures and their switching processes of small peamalloy (NiFe) elements exchange coupled by antiferromagnetic (NiO) thin films were studied using magnetic force microscopy. A uniform external magnetic field generated by an electromagnet was applied to the magnetic force microscopy so that the domain switching processes could be observed in situ. The effects of NiFe film thickness, element size, and aspect ratio on domain behavior were investigated. It was found that the unidirectional exchange coupling field of small elements was much greater than that measured on the sheet bilayer films. The results of this study showed little indication of the existence of domain structure in NiO antiferromagnetic film. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.