Commensurate vortex core switching in magnetic nanodisks at Gigahertz frequencies

TL;DR

This study investigates how vortex core polarization in magnetic nanodisks can be periodically reversed using oscillating magnetic fields, revealing mode-dependent mechanisms and thresholds relevant for spintronic memory applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of subharmonic vortex core switching modes and elucidates the dependence on disk thickness and diameter, advancing understanding of magnetization dynamics in nanodisks.

Findings

Multiple subharmonic switching modes identified

Resonant radial spin wave modes enable switching in thin disks

Breathing mode facilitates switching in thick disks

Abstract

The development of future spintronic applications requires a thorough and fundamental understanding of the magnetisation dynamics. Of particular interest are magnetic nanodisks, in which the vortex state emerges as a stable spin configuration. Here, we focus on how the vortex core polarisation can be reversed periodically by an oscillating magnetic field, applied perpendicularly to the disk's surface. By means of micromagnetic simulations, we demonstrate the presence of several subharmonic switching modes, i.e., the commensurate ratio between the switching frequency of the core and the driving frequency. The underlying mechanism of this periodic behaviour depends on the disk thickness. For thin disks, the core switches periodically due to resonant excitation of radial spin wave modes, while it is due to the breathing mode in the case of thick disks. However, overlap of both modes impedes periodic vortex core switching. For thin disks, the threshold field amplitude required for periodic switching can be lowered to about 30~mT by increasing the disk diameter. For thick disks, in contrast, the minimal field is largely unaffected by the disk diameter, as only the energy density of a central region around the vortex core is relevant to excite the breathing mode. Our results contribute to the understanding of the switching mechanisms in magnetic nanodisks, which are of technological interest due to their potential in non-volatile memory devices.