Bifurcation in precessional switching

We explore the precessional motion of the magnetization vector in a model m agnetic element. We find that the Landau-Lifshitz equation governing this m otion allows trajectories of the magnetization vector to bifurcate. This ye t unknown phenomenon is accompanied by a slowing down of the precessional m otion and an abrupt shrinking of the size of the trajectory of the precessi ng magnetization. We discuss the implication of bifurcation for future devi ces using precessional switching and suggest how magnetic elements showing the classical phenomenon of bifurcation can be tuned to act as quantum bits . (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.