Curvature induced chirality symmetry breaking in vortex core switching phenomena

Abstract: The interplay between magnetic vortex polarity, chirality and the curvature of the underlying surface results in a dependence of the vortex polarity switching efficiency on the vortex chirality. The switching is studied numerically by applying a short Gauss pulse of the external magnetic field to a spherical cap within its cut plane. The minimum field intensity required for the switching essentially depends on the vortex chirality and it does not depend on the initial vortex polarity. This effect decreases with the curvature radius increasing and it vanishes in the planar limit.