Abstract
The behavior of one-, two-, and three-vortex states of submicron-sized elliptical elements under the influence of external magnetic field is investigated here by means of micromagnetic simulations. The total magnetization curves show abrupt changes at the nucleation or annihilation of vortices. The magnetization curves and critical field show significant dependence on the field direction with respect to the particle's long axis. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.