The formation of magnetic edge states is investigated for magnetic qua
ntum structures with inhomogeneous magnetic fields such as a magnetic
quantum dot (B = 0 for r < r(0) and B not equal 0 elsewhere) and a mag
netic quantum ring (B = 0 for r(1) < r < r(2) and B not equal 0 elsewh
ere). It is found that the eigenenergy spectra for these structures cr
itically depend on the number of missing flux quanta and eigenstates w
hich are composed of bulk Landau levels and magnetic edge states. The
magnetic edge states correspond well with the classical particle traje
ctories which circulate either clockwise or counterclockwise along the
boundary between magnetic domains. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.