Magneto-optical mapping of elementary topological configurations of inhomogeneous magnetic fields

Abstract Magneto-optical images (MO) of projections of an inhomogeneous magnetic field on a magnetic indicator films plane were studied experimentally and by means of modeling. Inhomogeneity of the field clearly displays itself in the planar component distribution of this vector field by the presence of singular points and is clearly revealed by the MO-images in longitudinal sensitivity. The topological structure of the singular points of the field (Poincare Index) manifests itself in the peculiarities of the intensity distribution of the magneto-optical images. These peculiarities can serve as identifiers of “sink”, “source” and “saddle”-type singular points. The influence of a homogenous bias field on the change in topological properties is demonstrated. Changes in the geometry of the magnetic system also change the topology of the magnetic field; this is reflected in the number and the properties of the singular points of the MO-images.