Vortex Core-Driven Magnetization Dynamics
S.-B. Choe,1*
Y. Acremann,2
A. Scholl,1
A. Bauer,1,2,3
A. Doran,1
J. Stöhr,2
H. A. Padmore1
Time-resolved x-ray imaging shows that the magnetization dynamics
of a micron-sized pattern containing a ferromagnetic vortex
is determined by its handedness, or chirality. The out-of-plane
magnetization in the nanometer-scale vortex core induces a three-dimensional
handedness in the planar magnetic structure, leading to a precessional
motion of the core parallel to a subnanosecond field pulse.
The core velocity was an order of magnitude higher than expected
from the static susceptibility. These results demonstrate that
handedness, already well known to be important in biological
systems, plays an important role in the dynamics of microscopic
magnets.
2 Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Post Office Box 20450, Stanford, CA 94309, USA.
3 Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: SBChoe{at}lbl.gov
