title: Nanoscale switch for vortex polarization mediated by Bloch core formation in magnetic hybrid systems.
abstract: Vortices are fundamental magnetic topological structures characterized by a curling magnetization around a highly stable nanometric core. The control of the polarization of this core and its gyration is key to the utilization of vortices in technological applications. So far polarization control has been achieved in single-material structures using magnetic fields, spin-polarized currents or spin waves. Here we demonstrate local control of the vortex core orientation in hybrid structures where the vortex in an in-plane Permalloy film coexists with out-of-plane maze domains in a Co/Pd multilayer. The vortex core reverses its polarization on crossing a maze domain boundary. This reversal is mediated by a pair of magnetic singularities, known as Bloch points, and leads to the transient formation of a three-dimensional magnetization structure: a Bloch core. The interaction between vortex and domain wall thus acts as a nanoscale switch for the vortex core polarization.
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory for Mesoscopic Systems, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2] Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlhüter
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK [2] College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew Thomas
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.identifier: 0000000252526392
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Warnicke
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory for Mesoscopic Systems, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2] Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gliga
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephanie Elizabeth
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heldt
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Lalita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saharan
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory for Mesoscopic Systems, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2] Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anna Kinga
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Suszka
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoforos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moutafis
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rajesh Vilas
authors.identifier: 0000000167276501
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Chopdekar
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raabe
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4SB, UK.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hrkac
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory for Mesoscopic Systems, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland [2] Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laura Jane
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Heyderman