The dance of the domains: Excitations in magnetic microstructures

Magnetic objects of nano- or micrometer dimensions have fascinating properties. They contain regions with long range order between the atomic moments (domains) which are separated by domain walls. These domain patterns can be controlled by the size, the shape and the material. We use x-ray microscopy to study such magnetic micro-objects and investigate their dynamics. Using a stroboscopic pump-probe technique we determine the eigen-modes, their frequencies, damping and the coupling between them.
Starting from simple objects like squares containing only domains, domain walls and a single vortex, we move to more complex objects like rectangles with a cross-tie configuration. The latter contain two vortices and one anti-vortex. Because these three vortices are coupled their dynamics is very complex and depends on the relative vortex orientation despite of a degenerate ground state.
Magnetic microstructures imaged using a photoemission electron microscope (PEEM) and showing homogenous domains separated by domain walls. The square (left) contains a single vortex, the rectangle (right) contains two vortices and an anti-vortex in the center.