Analysis of switching times of inhomogeneous magnetization processes in thin platelets

High-density magnetic recording requires large switching fields and short sub-ns switching times of single-domain particles. Switching times are shown to depend on sample size and geometry, the magnetic material parameters and type and strength of applied fields. Numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation show a minimum of the switching times as a function of the damping parameter. With increasing magnetic field an increase of switching times is observed for small damping constants and a decrease for large ones.