Magnetization reversal

Magnetization reversal, or switching, represents the process that leads to a 180° reorientation of the magnetization vector with respect to its initial direction, from one stable orientation to the opposite one. Technologically, this is one of the most important processes in magnetism that is linked to the magnetic data storage process such as currently used in hard disk drives [1]. As it is known today, there are only few possible ways to reverse the magnetization of a metallic magnet:

1) magnetization reversal in an applied magnetic field [1];

2) magnetization reversal by spin injection [1];

3) magnetization reversal by circularly polarized light [2].

References

[1] J. Stohr, H. C. Siegmann, Magnetism: From fundamentals to Nanoscale Dynamics (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2006).

[2] C.D. Stanciu, PhD Thesis, 2008.