2006/07/04 by R. L. Compton, P. A. Crowell · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Amplitude #Characterization and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles #Condensed matter physics #Core (optical fiber) #Critical current #Excitation #Geometry #Gyration #Magnetic field #Magnetic flux #Magnetic properties of thin films #Mechanics #Optics #Physics #Pinning force #Quantum mechanics #Superconductivity #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Vortex #cond-mat.mtrl-sci
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.97.137202
4 Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett
arxiv created 2006/07/04 · openalex publication_date 2006/09/26 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We observe the dynamics of a single magnetic vortex pinned by a defect in a ferromagnetic film. At low excitation amplitudes, the vortex core gyrates about its equilibrium position with a frequency that is characteristic of a single pinning site. At high amplitudes, the frequency of gyration is determined by the magnetostatic energy of the entire vortex, which is confined in a micron-scale disk. We observe a sharp transition between these two amplitude regimes that is due to depinning of the vortex core from a local defect. The distribution of pinning sites is determined by mapping fluctuations in the frequency as the vortex core is displaced by a static in-plane magnetic field.