Temperature induced single domain–vortex state transition in sub-100nm Fe nanodots

Abstract

Magnetization reversal in nanomagnets via a vortex state, although often investigated at the remanent state, may not necessarily display a zero remanence or a highly pinched hysteresis loop. In contrast, the irreversible nucleation/annihilation events are clear indications of a vortex state. In this work, temperature induced single domain–vortex state transition has been investigated in 67nm Fe nanodots using a first-order reversal curve (FORC) technique. The two phase coexistence is manifested as different features in the FORC distribution. At lower temperatures, it becomes harder to nucleate and annihilate vortices and the amount of single domain dots increases.