Microwave assisted switching of single domain NiFe elements

Abstract

We study the switching behavior of thin single domain magnetic elements in the presence of microwave excitation. The application of a microwave field strongly reduces the coercivity of the elements. We show that this effect is most profound at the ferromagnetic resonance frequency of the elements. Observations using time-resolved magneto-optic Kerr microscopy in combination with pulsed microwave excitation further support that the microwave assisted switching process is indeed based on the coherent motion of the magnetization.