Asymmetric magnetic dots: A way to control magnetic properties

N. M. Vargas, S. Allende, B. Leighton, J. Escrig, J. Mejía-López, D. Altbir, Ivan K. Schuller
2011 Journal of Applied Physics  
We have used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the magnetic properties of asymmetric dots as a function of their geometry. The asymmetry of round dots is produced by cutting off a fraction of the dot and is characterized by an asymmetry parameter α. This shape asymmetry has interesting effects on the coercivity (H_c), remanence (M_r), and barrier for vortex and C- state formation. The dependences of H_c and M_r are non monotonic as a function of α with a well defined minima in these
more » ... ers. The vortex enters the most asymmetric part and exits through the symmetric portion of the dot. With increasing α the vortex formation starts with a C-state which persists for longer fields and the barrier for vortex exit diminishes with increasing asymmetry, thus providing control over the magnetic chirality. This implies interesting, naively-unexpected, magnetic behavior as a function of geometry and magnetic field.
doi:10.1063/1.3561483 fatcat:5wq5fpgumfbw3kvegtuuukqpm4