Abstract: A bubble memory includes a garnet film and a pattern of overlying propagation elements, each made of a layer of permalloy and a layer of manganese. The elements define a plurality of paths for propagating magnetic bubble domains under the influence of a Z bias magnetic field and a rotating XY magnetic drive field. The configuration and positioning of the propagation elements is such that the magnetic bubble domains can be selectively routed, e.g. to bypass defective minor loops, by creating barriers over which the magnetic bubble domains will not propagate. Preselected ones of the elements are preferably heated with a laser beam to a temperature which is approximately 75-90% of the melting point of the permalloy. This diffuses the manganese in the permalloy sufficiently to quench the magnetization in the permalloy to thereby create the barriers to bubble propagation.