MFM probe control of magnetic vortex chirality in elliptical Co nanoparticles

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) methods were applied to investigate the peculiarities of magnetization distribution in elliptical 400 x 600 x 27 nm Co particles. Reversible transitions between the uniform and vortex states under inhomogeneous magnetic field of MFM probe were observed. Possibility to control the chirality of a magnetic vortex in these particles by MFM probe manipulation was shown. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.