Contents

• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• Introduction
  • Historical context
  • Modern magnetism
  • Hard disk drives
  • Overview of relevant interactions
  • Computer simulations
  • Summary
  
  
• Micromagnetics
  • Introduction
  • From quantum mechanics to micromagnetics
  • Interactions between atomic magnetic moments
    • Exchange energy
    • Anisotropy energy
    • Zeeman energy
    • Dipolar energy
    • Total energy
  • Micromagnetic description
    • Exchange energy
    • Anisotropy energy
    • Zeeman energy
    • Dipolar energy
  • From static to dynamic
  • Computational models
    • The Stoner-Wohlfarth model
    • The Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation
  • Simulation
    • Discretisation
    • LLG relaxation
  • Micromagnetic systems
    • The hysteresis loop
    • Domains
    • States -- microstructures of magnetisation
  • Computational Issues
    • OOMMF software requirements
    • magpar software requirements
    • Post-processing
    • Hardware requirements
    • Disk space
    • Commodity computing
    • Visualisation
  • Applications
    • Patterned and non-patterned media
    • Magnetoresistive random access memory
  
  
• Basic geometries: flat cylinders and spheres
  • Introduction
  • Prior work
  • Parameterisation of geometry
  • Flat cylinder
  • Sphere
    • Finite differences and finite elements
    • Reversal mechanism
    • Size dependence
  • Summary
  
  
• Cones
  • Introduction
  • Parameters
  • Results
  • Summary
  
  
• Nanodots
  • Introduction
    • What is a nanodot?
    • Lithography
    • Self-assembly
  • Half-sphere
    • Results
    • Discussion
  • Part-spherical nanodots
    • Parameters
    • Results
    • Comparing OOMMF and magpar
  • Multiple vortex states
  • ``Droplet'' nanodots
    • Parameters
    • Reversal mechanism
    • Size dependence
  • Applying an out-of-plane external field
  • Summary
  
  
• Antidots
  • Introduction
    • The hexagonal lattice
  • Parameters of the antidot system
  • Three-dimensional model
  • Two-dimensional model
  • Stray field measurement
    • Numerical calculation of the stray field
    • Stray field calculation through analytical techniques
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Results
  • Summary
    • Outlook
  
  
• Summary and outlook
  • Summary
  
  
• Analytical calculation of the stray field
• Supporting equations for the 3D/1D Monte Carlo method
• Material parameters
• CGS and SI (MKS) unit systems
• Complete simulation process
  • Notation
  
  
• Constructive solid geometries
• Bibliography