Control of magnetic vortex chirality in square ring micromagnets -: art. no. 083904

We investigate the effect of a deliberately introduced shape asymmetry on magnetization reversal in small, square-shaped, magnetic rings. The magnetization reversal process is investigated using the diffracted magneto-optical Kerr effect combined with micromagnetic simulations. Experimentally we find that the reversal path is sensitive to small (+/- 1 degrees) changes in the direction of the applied field. Micromagnetic simulations that reproduce the measured zeroth- and first-order loops allow us to identify the reversal mechanisms as due to different intermediate states, namely, the so-called vortex and horseshoe states. Based on our results we are now able to prescribe a methodology for writing a vortex state with specific chirality in these asymmetric rings. Such control will be necessary if patterned arrays of this kind are to be used as magnetic storage elements. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.