It's a matter of cores

Using time-resolved X-ray microscopy, it is possible to get an insight into the dynamics of magnetic micro- and nanostructures. A fascinating property of micro-magnetism comes from the possibility to control the domain and vortex configuration through the sample's shape and size. For instance, in a rectangular platelet a configuration containing a stable combinatio of vortices and an antivortex can be created. Such a single crosstie wall contains three vortex cores that can each point either up or down resulting in a total of 2^3 (=eight) configurations only distinguishable when their dynamics are investigated.