Ferromagnetic resonance force spectroscopy of a magnetic vortex

Due to its nanometer size (of the order the exchange length), probing the high frequency dynamics of a magnetic vortex core is an experimental challenge. Precessional dynamics of the magnetization of individual nano-disks of NiMnSb perpendicularly magnetized is measured in a wide range of bias magnetic fields using a magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM). A full dynamic phase diagram, demonstrating excitation of a Kittel-type dipolar mode in the saturated disks and the gyrotropic mode of vortex core rotation in the vortex-state unsaturated disks, is established. Switching of the vortex core polarity in a negative (anti-parallel to core) bias magnetic field is registered dynamically. Analytic theory and micromagnetic simulations provide a quantitative description of the experimental results.