Abstract

The combination of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism being an element-specific local probe for the magnetic microstructure and the transmission X-ray microscope providing a spatial resolution of about 30 nm allows to image magnetic domains with a huge contrast. Special virtues of this technique are the applicability of varying magnetic fields thus allowing technologically relevant studies of the evolution and the switching behaviour of domain structures. Quantitative information on the local magnetization and in particular a separation of spin and orbital moments is possible. Results obtained at the Fe and Co L₃ edges in GdFe and PtCo multilayered systems demonstrate the potential of this new technique.

Author Keywords: Domain imaging; X-ray magnetic circular dichroism; Transmission X-ray microscope

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Experimental aspects

3. Results and discussion

Acknowledgements

References

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Fig. 1. Part of the image field of 17 m of a M–TXM image of a multilayered 75×(4 Å Gd/4 Å Fe) system.

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Fig. 2. Intensity scan across the domain marked in the inset of a multilayered GdFe system taken at the Fe L₃ egde.

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Fig. 3. Multilayered PtCo (a) and GdFe (b) images taken in varying applied magnetic fields and macroscopic Kerrmagnetometry results (c).

References

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Corresponding author. Tel.: +49-931-888-5870; fax: +49-931-888-4921; email: peter.fischer@physik.uni-wuerzburg.de