Transverse magnetic field effects on metastable states of magnetic island chains

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a transverse magnetic field influences the stability and transitions of metastable states in a one-dimensional chain of magnetic islands with dipolar interactions, revealing multistability and phase behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a model analyzing the effects of transverse magnetic fields on metastable states in magnetic island chains, including stability analysis and phase diagram construction.

Findings

Identified three uniform metastable states with distinct magnetization configurations.

Demonstrated the control of state stability and transitions via external magnetic field.

Mapped the phase diagram showing multistability regions in field/anisotropy space.

Abstract

A one-dimensional chain of elongated anisotropic magnetic islands on a nonmagnetic substrate with dipolar interactions and an applied magnetic field transverse to the chain is considered. With the long axes of the islands perpendicular to the chain, the system allows for three uniform metastable states: (1) tilted dipoles with magnetization at an oblique angle to the chain, (2) transverse dipoles with magnetization perpendicular to the chain, and (3) alternating transverse dipoles with no net magnetization. The uniform magnetic field controls their stabilities and is analyzed for its ability to cause transitions among the states. The energy and frequency eigenvalues are determined for small-amplitude traveling wave deviations of the dipoles. The results are summarized in a phase diagram in the field/anisotropy plane, that highlights the multistable properties of this type of system.