Direct observation of vortex states in an antiferromagnetic layer have been recently reported [Wu, et al, Nature Phys. 7, 303 (2011)]. In contrast to their analogues in ferromagnetic systems, namely in nanomagnets, the vortex core of antiferromagnets
are not expected (and have not been observed) to present gyrotropic or any other remarkable dynamics, even when external fields are applied. Using simulated annealing and spin dynamics techniques we have been able to describe a number of properties of such a vortex state. Besides of being in agreement with reported results, our results also indicate, whenever applied to antiferromagnetic nanodisks, that the presence of holes in the sample may induce two types of motions for this vortex. Its dynamics depends upon the relative separation between its core and the hole: when they are very apart the vortex core oscillates near the nanodisk center (its equilibrium position); while, if they are sufficiently close, the core moves towards the hole where it is captured and remains static.
We investigate the influence of artificial defects (small holes) inserted into magnetic nanodisks on the vortex core dynamics. One and two holes (antidots) are considered. In general, the core falls into the hole but, in particular, we would like to
remark an interesting phenomenon not yet observed, which is the vortex core switching induced by the vortex-hole interactions. It occurs for the case with only one hole and for very special conditions involving the hole size and position as well as the disk size. Any small deformation in the disk geometry such as the presence of a second antidot changes completely the vortex dynamics and the vortex core eventually falls into one of the defects. After trapped, the vortex center still oscillates with a very high frequency and small amplitude around the defect center.
We study the magnetic excitations of a square lattice spin-ice recently produced in an artificial form, as an array of nanoscale magnets. Our analysis, based upon the dipolar interaction between the nanomagnetic islands, correctly reproduces the grou
nd-state observed experimentally. In addition, we find magnetic monopole-like excitations effectively interacting by means of the usual Coulombic plus a linear confining potential, the latter being related to a string-like excitation binding the monopoles pairs, what indicates that the fractionalization of magnetic dipoles may not be so easy in two dimensions. These findings contrast this material with the three-dimensional analogue, where such monopoles experience only the Coulombic interaction. We discuss, however, two entropic effects that affect the monopole interactions: firstly, the string configurational entropy may loose the string tension and then, free magnetic monopoles should also be found in lower dimensional spin ices; secondly, in contrast to the string configurational entropy, an entropically driven Coulomb force, which increases with temperature, has the opposite effect of confining the magnetic defects.
Defects introduced in ferromagnetic nanodisks may deeply affect the structure and dynamics of stable vortex-like magnetization. Here, analytical techniques are used for studying, among other dynamical aspects, how a small cylindrical cavity modify th
e oscillatory modes of the vortex. For instance, we have realized that if the vortex is nucleated out from the hole its gyrotropic frequencies are shifted below. Modifications become even more pronounced when the vortex core is partially or completely captured by the hole. In these cases, the gyrovector can be partially or completely suppressed, so that the associated frequencies increase considerably, say, from some times to several powers. Possible relevance of our results for understanding other aspects of vortex dynamics in the presence of cavities and/or structural defects are also discussed.
