Magnetization patterns of permalloy networks

Magnetization patterns in Permalloy network junctions are obtained by use of experiments and micromagnetic simulations. In the as-deposited thin film of the honeycomb network composed of three-arm junctions, only the lowest energy configuration, which possesses /spl plusmn/1 reduced net magnetic pole density in the junction center, is observed. In the as-deposited thin film of the square network composed of four-arm junctions, the configuration with the lowest energy density is the most frequently observed experimentally. The pattern of the independently existent antivortex, which has higher energy density, is for the first time observed experimentally in the square network.