  Magnetization reversal in magnetic particles is one of the fundamental issues
in magnetic data storage. Technological improvements require the understanding
of dynamical magnetization reversal processes at nanosecond time scales. New
strategies are needed to overcome current limitations. For example, the problem
of thermal stability of the magnetization state (superparamagnetic limit) can
be pushed down to smaller particle sizes by increasing the magnetic anisotropy.
High fields are then needed to reverse the magnetization that are difficult to
achieve in current devices. Here we propose a new method to overcome this
limitation. A constant applied field, well below the switching field, combined
with a radio-frequency (RF) field pulse can reverse the magnetization of a
nanoparticle. The efficiency of this method is demonstrated on a 20 nm cobalt
particle by using the micro-SQUID technique. Other applications of this method
might be nucleation or depinning of domain walls.
