Switching properties of ferromagnetic nanoparticles driven by a circularly polarized magnetic field.

We present a comprehensive study of the magnetization switching of a uniaxial nanoparticle driven by a circularly polarized magnetic field rotated in the plane perpendicular to the easy axis. The conditions for the existence of the uniform and non-uniform precessions of the nanoparticle magnetic moment are derived. In addition, the differences between switchings via uniform and non-uniform precession are determined, and the essential role of field polarization is demonstrated. The dependence of the switching time on the field amplitude and frequency are calculated numerically. We show that a permanent magnetic field can reduce the amplitude and frequency of the switching rotating field, and that the combined action of these fields is characterized by an extremely strong dependence of the switching time on the field parameters. We also demonstrate that the transition process caused by an external magnetic field pulse can decrease the switching amplitude in comparison with the value predicted from analysis of the stability criterion. We discuss the advantages of switching the magnetization by means of the action of a rotating field over the magnetization switching using a steady field applied perpendicular to the easy axis.