Vortex nucleation in submicrometer ferromagnetic disks

We investigate both experimentally and by means of micromagnetic calculations magnetic states preceding vortex formation in permalloy nanodisks. In experiment, we used micro-Hall sensors fabricated from GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction material to measure stray field hysteresis loops of individual disks. Micromagnetic calculations involving different micromagnetic codes allowed us to interpret the experimental results. Both calculations and experiments suggest that vortex formation can be reached via different precursor states. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.