Effect of strain gradient symmetry on vortex core translation

The high stability of magnetic vortices makes them very attractive for applications in magnetic based resonators and memory devices. Such topological defects can be found in magnetic planar microstructures, exhibiting an in-plane flux closure state due to the lateral confinement. Manipulation of the core using external magnetic fields has the drawback of high power dissipation and as an alternative, voltage induced strain has been shown to modify the magnetic domain pattern in structures containing vortex cores. However, the core position remains fixed due to the symmetry of the strain induced anisotropy. Here, we present an investigation on the effects of inducing a strain gradient on micron-sized magnetic structures containing vortex cores. Unlike previous studies we demonstrate the ability to displace the vortex core itself without the need of magnetic fields.