  We investigate the dynamics of a magnetic system consisting of two magnetic
moments coupled by either exchange, dipole-dipole, or Dzyalozhinski-Moriya
interaction. We compare the switching mechanisms and switching rates as induced
by the three couplings. For each coupling and each configuration of the two
anisotropy axes, we describe the switching modes and, using the kinetic theory
of Langer, we provide (semi-)analytical expressions for the switching rate. We
then compare the three interactions with regard to their efficiency in the
reversal of the net magnetic moment of the dimer. We also investigate how the
energy barriers vary with the coupling. For the dipole-dipole interaction we
find that the energy barrier may either increase or decrease with the coupling
depending on whether the latter is weak or strong. Finally, upon comparing the
various switching rates, we find that the dipole-dipole coupling leads to the
slowest magnetic dimer, as far as the switching of its net magnetic moment is
concerned.
