Dynamics and switching processes for magnetic bubbles in nanoelements

We study numerically the dynamics of a magnetic bubble in a disk-shaped magnetic element which is probed by a pulse of a magnetic field gradient. Magnetic bubbles are nontrivial magnetic configurations which are characterized by a topological (skyrmion) number N and they have been observed in mesoscopic magnetic elements with strong perpendicular anisotropy. For weak fields we find a skew deflection of the axially symmetric N=1 bubble and a subsequent periodic motion around the center of the dot. This gyrotropic motion of the magnetic bubble is shown here for the first time. Stronger fields induce switching of the N=1 bubble to a bubble which contains a pair of Bloch lines and has N=0. The N=0 bubble can be switched back to a N=1 bubble by applying again an external field gradient. Detailed features of the unusual bubble dynamics are described by employing the skyrmion number and the moments of the associated topological density.