  We have studied the nucleation of superconductivity in a mesoscopic Al disk
wit a Co/Pd magnetic dot placed on the top by measuring the normal
superconducting phase boundary Tc(B). The measurements have revealed a
pronounced asymmetry with respect to the direction of the applied magnetic
field, indicating an enhancement of the critical field when an applied magnetic
field is oriented parallel to the magnetization of the magnetic dot. The
theoretical Tc(B) curve is in a good agreement with the experimental data.
