Within the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory, we investigate the vortex structure in a superconducting thin film with a ferromagnetic disk on top of it. Antivortices are stabilized in shells around a central core of vortices (or a giant vortex) with size magnetization-controlled “magic numbers.” An equilibrium vortex phase diagram is constructed. The transition between the different vortex phases occurs through the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair under the magnetic disk edge.

• Received 14 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.68.024509